Management of non-melanoma skin cancer in solid organ transplant recipients

Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most frequent cancer observed in solid organ transplant recipients (SOTR). Early diagnosis, patient education, and modification of immunosuppression are effective measures for reduction of NMSC incidence. Many risk factors have been identified, including age at transplantation, fair skin, type of immunosuppressive drugs, cumulative sun exposure, viral infections, and various genetic markers. Skin self-examination and photoprotection should be encouraged in all transplanted patients. Long-term skin surveillance, early diagnosis and aggressive treatment of any suspicious lesion, reduction of immunosuppressive therapy, and conversion to mammalian target-of-rapamycin (m-TOR) inhibitors can be also effective measures for reduction of NMSC incidence