{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,18]],"date-time":"2026-08-18T05:28:42Z","timestamp":1787030922820,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":21,"publisher":"AOSIS","issue":"0","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,23]],"date-time":"2025-04-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1745366400000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background:\u00a0Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is a genetic disorder found worldwide. Skin cancer is a significant risk for people with albinism, particularly in Africa, where it is a major cause of death. Many patients delay seeking medical care until their skin lesions are in advanced stages.\n\nAim:\u00a0The aim of this study was to describe the clinico-pathological profile of skin cancers in patients with albinism at their initial presentation to our dermatology outpatient department.\n\nSetting:\u00a0This study was conducted at the dermatology department of Universitas Academic Hospital, Bloemfontein, South Africa.\n\nMethods:\u00a0A retrospective descriptive study covering June 2009 to July 2019 was conducted. Only records of oculo-cutaneous albinism patients diagnosed with skin cancer during their initial visit were included.\n\nResults:\u00a0Eighty-six patients with albinism were recorded, 37% (n\u00a0= 32) of whom had skin cancer at their first visit. Females (81%) were more affected than males (19%). The majority of skin cancers were squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) (54%) and basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) (46%). No melanomas were found. Most SCCs were classified as aggressive (80.4%), compared to 30.8% of BCCs.\n\nConclusion:\u00a0Almost 40% of OCA patients presented with skin cancer at their initial visit, highlighting the need for strengthening primary healthcare systems\u2019 efficiency in ensuring early referrals for OCA patients.\n\nContribution:\u00a0Education, socioeconomic support and awareness campaigns are\u00a0sine qua non\u00a0actionable factors that could help encourage early medical evaluation for all OCA patients.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.4102\/hsag.v30i0.2906","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,23]],"date-time":"2025-04-23T04:05:34Z","timestamp":1745381134000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4102\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Clinico-pathologic profile of skin cancers in oculocutaneous albinism at Universitas Academic Hospital"],"prefix":"10.4102","volume":"30","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0000-0199-0884","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Molikuoa Harriet","family":"Makuru","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/009xwd568","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"University of the Free State"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4771-2115","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Frans","family":"Maruma","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/009xwd568","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"University of the Free State"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0002-8398-1512","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Edward","family":"Ngwenya","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/00g0p6g84","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"University of Pretoria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1030-1512","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kelvin","family":"Mponda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/025sthg37","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"2580","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,23]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref0","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Andrees, V., Wolf, S., Liebers, J., Augustin, M. & Girbig, G., 2024, \u2018Which factors influence the participation in statutory skin cancer screenings in Germany?\u2019, Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft 22(6), 775\u2013781. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/ddg.15421","DOI":"10.1111\/ddg.15421"},{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Awe, O., Abudu, F. & Oyelekan, O., 2015, \u2018Malignant melanoma in Nigerian oculocutaneous albino\u2019, Nigerian Journal of Plastic Surgery 11(2), 68\u201372. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4103\/0253-7613.162451","DOI":"10.4103\/0794-9316.178453"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Awe, O. & Azeke, T.A., 2018, \u2018Cutaneous cancers in Nigerian albinos: A review of 22 cases\u2019, Nigerian Journal of Surgery 23(17), 34\u201338. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4103\/njs.njs_34_17","DOI":"10.4103\/njs.NJS_23_17"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Binesh, F., Akhavan, A. & Navabii, H., 2010, \u2018Nevoid malignant melanoma in an albino woman\u2019, BMJ Case Reports 2010, bcr1120092514. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bcr.11.2009.2514","DOI":"10.1136\/bcr.08.2010.3262"},{"key":"ref4","unstructured":"Bolognia, J., Schaffer, J. & Cerroni, L. (eds.), 2018, Dermatology, 4th edn., Elsevier, Philadelphia, PA."},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Brocco, G., 2016, \u2018Albinism, stigma, subjectivity and global-local discourses in Tanzania\u2019, Anthropology & Medicine 23(3), 229\u2013243. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/13648470.2016.1184008","DOI":"10.1080\/13648470.2016.1184009"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Enechukwu, N.A., Ogun, G.O., Ezejiofor, O.I., Chukwuanukwu, T.O., Yaria, J., George, A.O. et.al., 2020, \u2018Histopathologic patterns of cutaneous malignancies in individuals with oculocutaneous albinism in Anambra state, Nigeria: a paradigm swing?\u2019, Ecancermedicalscience 14, 1013. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3332\/ecancer.2020.1013","DOI":"10.3332\/ecancer.2020.1013"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Fajuyigbe, D., Lwin, S.M., Diffey, B., Baker, R., Tobin, D.J., Sarkany, R.P.E. et al., 2018, \u2018Melanin distribution in human epidermis affords localized protection against DNA photodamage and concurs with skin cancer incidence difference in extreme phototypes\u2019, FASEB Journal 32(7), 3700\u20133706. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1096\/fj.201800114R","DOI":"10.1096\/fj.201701472R"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Jones, C.B., Smith, J. & Ochieng, L., 2018, \u2018Beliefs about people with albinism in Uganda: A qualitative study using the Common-Sense Model\u2019, PLoS One 13(10), e0205774. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0205774","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0205774"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kiprono, S., Chaula, B.M. & Beltraminelli, H., 2014, \u2018Histological review of skin cancers in African albinos: A 10-year retrospective review\u2019, BMC Cancer 14, 157. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/1471-2407-14-157","DOI":"10.1186\/1471-2407-14-157"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lekalakala, P.T., Khammissa, R.A.G., Kramer, B. & Feller, L., 2015, \u2018Oculocutaneous albinism and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin of the head and neck in sub-Saharan Africa\u2019, Journal of Skin Cancer 2015, 167847. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1155\/2015\/167847","DOI":"10.1155\/2015\/167847"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mabula, J.B., Chalya, P.L., Mchembe, M.D., Jaka, H., Giiti, G., Rambau, P. et al., 2012, \u2018Skin cancers among albinos at a university teaching hospital in Northwestern Tanzania: A retrospective review of 64 cases\u2019, BMC Dermatology 12, 5. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/1471-5945-12-5","DOI":"10.1186\/1471-5945-12-5"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mouhari-Toure, A., Kombat\u00e9, K., Akakpo, S., Gnossike, P., Adam, S., Mahamadou, G. et al., 2021, \u2018Factors associated with skin cancers in people with albinism in Togo\u2019, Journal of Skin Cancer 2021, 3433493. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1155\/2021\/6618990","DOI":"10.1155\/2021\/3433493"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mswela, M., 2018, \u2018Does albinism fit within the legal definition of disability in the employment context? 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