IMPORTANCESkin cancer is the most common malignancy occurring after organ transplantation. Although previous research has reported an increased risk of skin cancer in solid organ transplant recipients (OTRs), no study has estimated the posttransplant population-based incidence in the United States. OBJECTIVE To determine the incidence and evaluate the risk factors for posttransplant skin cancer, including squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), melanoma (MM), and Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) in a cohort of US OTRs receiving a primary organ transplant in 2003 or 2008. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This multicenter retrospective cohort study examined 10 649 adult recipients of a primary transplant performed at 26 centers across the United States in the Transplant Skin Cancer Network during 1 of 2 calendar years (either 2003 or 2008) identified through the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) database. Recipients of all organs except intestine were included, and the follow-up periods were 5 and 10 years.MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Incident skin cancer was determined through detailed medical record review. Data on predictors were obtained from the OPTN database. The incidence rates for posttransplant skin cancer overall and for SCC, MM, and MCC were calculated per 100 000 person-years. Potential risk factors for posttransplant skin cancer were tested using multivariate Cox regression analysis to yield adjusted hazard ratios (HR).RESULTS Overall, 10 649 organ transplant recipients (mean [SD] age, 51 [12] years; 3873 women [36%] and 6776 men [64%]) contributed 59 923 years of follow-up. The incidence rates for posttransplant skin cancer was 1437 per 100 000 person-years. Specific subtype rates for SCC, MM, and MCC were 812, 75, and 2 per 100 000 person-years, respectively. Statistically significant risk factors for posttransplant skin cancer included pretransplant skin cancer (

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Utilities are measures of quality of life that reflect the strength of individuals' preferences or values for a particular health outcome. As such, utilities represent a measure of disease burden. The aim of this article is to introduce the concept of utilities to the dermatology community and to present a catalog of dermatology utilities obtained from direct patient interviews. Our data are based on 236 total subjects from Grady Hospital (Atlanta, GA), Stanford Medical Center (Palo Alto, CA), and Parkland Hospital (Dallas, TX). The mean time trade-off utilities ranged from 0.640 for blistering disorders to 1.000 for alopecia, cosmetic, and urticaria. The mean utility across all diagnoses was 0.943. We present utilities for 17 diagnostic categories and discuss the underlying reasons for the significant disease burden that these utilities represent. We also present these dermatology categories relative to noncutaneous diseases to place the cutaneous utilities in perspective and to compare the burden of disease. We have demonstrated that skin diseases have considerable burden of disease and provided a preliminary repository of utility data for future researchers and policy makers.

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IMPORTANCE Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) represents 90% of malignant eyelid tumors and is locally invasive and destructive, if left untreated.OBJECTIVE To assess the feasibility of using vismodegib for periocular and orbital BCC based on its efficacy and tolerability. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTSIn this prospective observational case series, consecutive patients with periocular or orbital BCC who met criteria for treatment with vismodegib were recruited prospectively during an 8-month period from February through September 2012 from 2 academic hospitals. Seven patients received oral vismodegib, 150 mg daily, until maximum clinical response was achieved, the tumor progressed, or the patient could no longer tolerate adverse effects. Clinical response and adverse effects related to treatment were recorded. The primary endpoint was reduction in lesion size, measured as percentage change in the externally visible dimension. EXPOSURE Oral vismodegib.RESULTS All 7 patients had locally advanced, biopsy-proven, infiltrative BCC that was not amenable to surgical resection or radiation. No patients had metastatic disease at presentation. The mean patient age was 71 years (range, 43-100 years), and 4 patients (57%) had secondary orbital involvement. The mean lesion size was 3.4 cm (range, 1.0-6.0 cm), and all 7 cases (100%) represented recurrent tumors excised previously with controlled margins by frozen section or Mohs micrographic surgery. The mean treatment duration was 11 weeks (range, 4-16 weeks), and the mean duration of follow-up was 7.3 months (range, 5-10 months). Two patients (29%) demonstrated complete clinical regression, 2 (29%) demonstrated greater than 80% partial clinical regression, 2 (29%) demonstrated less than 35% partial clinical regression, and 1 (14%) progressed. Adverse reactions occurred in 6 patients (86%) and included alopecia (29%), dysgeusia (29%), muscle cramps (29%), and anorexia (14%). Two patients (29%) developed new squamous cell carcinomas (well-differentiated, keratoacanthoma type) at uninvolved sites including the eyebrow and forearm.CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Vismodegib seems to be well-tolerated and effective for treating periocular and orbital BCC in about half of all cases. Patients receiving treatment should be monitored for new squamous cell carcinomas at uninvolved sites.