Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Volume 63, Issue 6 , Pages 1006-1010, December 2010

Increased prevalence of left-sided skin cancers

Portions of these data were included in a poster presentation entitled “The Association of Asymmetric Skin Cancers with Time Spent in an Automobile” at the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting, February 1-5, 2007, Washington, DC.

  • Susan T. Butler, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Dermatology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Susan T. Butler, MD, Department of Dermatology, Saint Louis University, 1402 S Grand Blvd, Saint Louis, MO 63104.
    • ,
  • Scott W. Fosko, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Dermatology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri
    • Department of Otolaryngology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri
    • Department of Ophthalmology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri
    • Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri
    • Saint Louis University Cancer Center, Saint Louis, Missouri

Accepted 9 November 2009. published online 12 March 2010.

Background

Previous research has shown an increase in photodamage and precancers on the left side of the face.

Objective

We sought to determine whether there is a higher frequency of skin cancer development on the left side of the body than the right.

Methods

The study was a retrospective review of patients with skin cancer referred to our Mohs micrographic surgery and cutaneous oncology unit in 2004.

Results

When including all types of skin cancers and both sexes, more cancers occurred on the left (52.6%) than the right (47.4%) (P = .059), with a stronger trend in men (P = .042). There were significantly more malignant melanoma in situ on the left (31/42, 74%) than the right (11/42, 26%) (P = .002).

Limitations

Population was comprised of patients referred to an academic medical center and often for Mohs micrographic surgery.

Conclusions

There were significantly more skin cancers on the left than the right side in men. This discrepancy was even more profound in malignant melanoma in situ.

Key words: left sided, photodamage, skin cancer, ultraviolet A

Abbreviations used: LM, lentigo maligna, MMIS, malignant melanoma in situ, UV, ultraviolet

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 Funding sources: None.

 Conflicts of interest: None declared.

PII: S0190-9622(09)01501-1

doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2009.11.032

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Volume 63, Issue 6 , Pages 1006-1010, December 2010

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