This study presents the incidence of major nonmelanoma skin cancers (major NMSCs), other nonmelanoma skin
cancers (other NMSCs) and malignant melanoma (MM) in Croatia. The skin cancers recorded between 1 January 2003
and 31 December 2005 were retrospectively analyzed. Until 2003, the incidence of major NMSCs and other NMSCs was
not estimated in Croatia. Incident cases of NMSCs were identified by the use of a questionnaire distributed to dermatology
departments in Croatia and then collected at the University Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Zagreb
University Hospital Center, and from the records kept at the National Cancer Registry. Incident cases of MM were extracted
from the National Cancer Registry. During the 3-year period, 9,479 cases of major NMSCs are recorded, 4,622
(49%) in male and 4,857 (51%) in female patients. The crude incidence rate was 72.1/100,000 for males and 70.3/100,000
for females. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) was the most common major NMSC in both sexes. In the total number of major
NMSCs, there were 7,244 cases of BCC. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was the second most common major NMSC.
There were 1,860 SCC cases. The crude incidence rate was 54.9/100,000 for BCC in males, 53.9/100,000 in females, and
14.6/100,000 for SCC in male and 13.4/100,000 in female patients. Other NMSCs were registered in 119 cases (53% male
and 47% female). The crude incidence rate was 0.9/100,000 for male and 0.8/100,000 for female patients. MM was registered
in 1,427 cases (48% male and 52% female.) The crude incidence rate was 10.7/100,000 for males and females. These
results will serve as reference for studying the patterns of descriptive epidemiology of major NMSCs, other NMSCs and
MM in Croatia and Europe in the forthcoming years