BACKGROUND: Albinism is an established risk factor for skin cancer in black 
Africans, and high levels of ultraviolet radiation increase the risk of the 
three major forms of skin cancer.
METHODS: We present four albinos with histologic diagnoses of skin cancer who 
were seen at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria from 
January 2005 to December 2006. Skin cancer in these cases was compared with the 
total skin cancer affecting 29 patients during the study period.
RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients presented with skin cancer during the study 
period. Four Nigerian albinos (two men and two women) with skin cancer accounted 
for 13.8% of the skin cancers observed during the 2-year period. They ranged in 
age from 22 to 40 years (mean, 27.8 years). The sites of the lesions included 
the head [squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in two patients and basal cell carcinoma 
(BCC) in one patient] and the upper limb (melanoma). All tumors were excised; in 
addition, patients with SCC and melanoma received adjuvant chemotherapy. Two 
patients, one woman with SCC and the patient with melanoma, showed residual 
tumor because of inadequate excision. During the evaluation period between 14 
and 18 months, the sites appeared to be healed with no evidence of recurrence in 
the male with SCC and female with BCC.
CONCLUSION: Albinism and solar radiation are risk factors for skin cancer. Early 
implementation of public education strategies on prevention should improve 
outcome.