Skin cancer in Northern Brazil: Gathering notifications from 2014-2019 through the DATASUS platform.

Abstract

Introduction: Skin cancer is the most common neoplasm malignancy worldwide and is subdivided into melanoma and not melanoma. Brazil, being a tropical country and with a high incidence of UV rays, is one of the countries in the world most affected by this type of neoplasia. Objective: To describe the profile of patients with skin cancer in the northern region of Brazil, in the period from 2014 to 2019, using the data reported and present in DATASUS. Method: Historical series of skin cancer cases reported in the North of Brazil, between the years 2014 and 2019, accounted for through the DATASUS platform. Results: In the last 5 years, 2,610 cases of skin cancer were reported in the North, with Rondônia, Pará and Amazonas being the most affected states (for every 100 thousand inhabitants). Non-melanoma skin cancer is the most common, affecting mainly men over 40 years of age. The death rate is the lowest compared to all regions of the country and the world rate. Conclusion: Due to the deficit in medical care in the North, it is partly explained by the low number of skin cancer diagnoses and the lack of data on the platform.