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In a recent article, Hemminki et al¹ reported time trends and familial risks in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin based on the Swedish Family-Cancer Database. In particular, they tried to address this question with reference to sun-exposed and covered sites of the body. Figure 3 of their article displays the age-specific incidence rates of invasive SCC of the skin on sun-exposed and covered body parts. They defined that sun-exposed sites among males "included the head, neck, and arms, and for women, also legs. All other sites were considered nonexposed." From Figure 3 they conclude, "the slopes (incidence/age) are quite different for sun-exposed and covered sites." We think that this conclusion is wrong. They displayed incidence rates by age group on a linear scale, which simply masks the slope of the age-specific incidence rate of the covered skin sites. If the authors would have used a logarithmic scale, they . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Andreas Stang, MD
Epidemiology Unit
Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology
University Hospital of Essen
Hufelandstr 55
45122 Essen, Germany
(e-mail: andreas.stang@uni-essen.de)

Christa Stegmaier, MS
Saabrücken, Germany

Karl-Heinz Jöckel, PhD
Essen