A European Consensus on the Consistent Use of the Term“Keratinocyte Cancer”

Sep 21, 2026

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Keratinocyte-derived skin cancers—basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, actinic keratosis, and Bowen’s disease—have traditionally been grouped under the term “non-melanoma skin cancer,” which is described as vague and potentially misleading. An expert dermato-oncology consensus was initiated to promote consistent use of “keratinocyte cancer” for keratinocyte-derived malignancies and their precursors. The consensus group and international delegates voted unanimously for this revised terminology, aiming for improved clinical and scientific precision and better patient–physician communication.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Significance

Rationale for changing terminology

Impact on communication and clinical precision

Epidemiology and burden

Expert consensus and voting outcome

1/4 ORIGINAL REPORT A European Consensus on the Consistent Use of the Term“Keratinocyte Cancer” Wolfgang G. PHILIPP-DORMSTON1,2, Lasse R. BRAATHEN3, Colin A. MORTON4, Merete HAEDERSDAL5, Yolanda GILABERTE6, Nicole BASSET-SEGUIN7,8, Elena SOTIRIOU9, Stine Regin WIEGELL10, Piergiacomo CALZAVARA-PINTON11,12, Thomas DIRSCHKA13, Hans Christian WULF10, Günther HOFBAUER14,15 and Rolf Markus SZEIMIES16 1Hautzentrum Köln (Cologne Dermatology), Köln, Germany, 2Faculty of Health, University Witten-Herdecke, Witten, Germany, 3Private Office, Bern, Switzerland, 4Stirling Community Hospital, Stirling, UK, 5Department of Dermatology, Bispebjerg & Frederiksberg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark, 6Department of Dermatology, Miguel Servet University Hospital, IIS Aragón, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain, 7Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France, 8Université de Paris, Paris, France, 9First Department of Dermatology and Venereology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece, 10Department of Dermatology, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark, 11Department of Dermatology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy, 12Department of Dermatology, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy, 13CentroDerm Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany, 14Medical Faculty, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland, 15Dermatology Department, University Hospital of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland, and 16Klinikum Vest GmbH, Knappschaftskrankenhaus Recklinghausen, Germany Keratinocyte-derived skin cancers comprise basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, its precursor actinic keratosis, and Bowen’s disease. Historically, this group of neoplasms has been subsumed under the term non-melanoma skin cancer. However, the term nonmelanoma skin cancer can be misleading and lacks precision. Therefore, more precise and reasonable terminology, valuing the relevance of keratinocyte-derived cancer, appears pertinent to meet its clinical and scientific significance. A group of experienced dermatooncologists initiated a consensus approach to promote the use of the term “keratinocyte cancer” instead of“non-melanoma skin cancer” when referring to carcinomas and their precursors that are derived from keratinocytes. The vote among members of the consensus group indicated unanimous agreement on the consistent use of the term “keratinocyte cancer” instead of“non-melanoma skin cancer”. International delegates also voted in favour of the revised terminology. The more precise and, by means of etiopathogenesis, correct term “keratinocyte cancer” should be consistently used for malignancies originated from keratinocytes. This is expected to have a positive impact on patient– physician communication and gives better justice to this important group of keratinocyte-derived cancers. Key words: consensus; keratinocyte cancer; non-melanoma skin cancer; actinic keratosis; squamous cell carcinoma; basal cell carcinoma. Submitted Apr 17, 2024. Accepted after revision Jun 24, 2024 Published Aug 5, 2024. DOI: 10.2340/actadv.v104.40601 Acta Derm Veneroel 2024; 104: adv40601 . Corr: PD [Dr. med. Wolfgang](Dr. med. Wolfgang) G. Philipp-Dormston, Hautzentrum Köln (Cologne Dermatology), Schillingsrotter Str. 39–41, DE-50996 Köln, Germany. E-mail: [mail@hautzentrum.com](mail@hautzentrum.com) Keracelinocycarciteno-eraidCsCk),in cancerssquamous comprise basal cell carcinoma (SCC), its precursor actinic keratosis (AK), and Bowen’s disease, in situ forms ofSCC. Associated with a tremendous medical and social burden, this group of neoplasms SIGNIFICANCE Different types of skin cancer originate from different cells in the body. In the most common type, cancer cells derive from cells building the superficial skin layer, called keratinocytes. To distinguish this type of skin cancer from pigment cell skin cancer called melanoma, it is summarized under the term “non-melanoma skin cancer”. However, the term is vague and mislead

FAQs

Why is the term “non-melanoma skin cancer” considered misleading?

It is described as vague and lacking precision for keratinocyte-derived cancers and their precursors, reducing appropriate appreciation of their relevance compared with melanoma-derived cancers.

What terminology is recommended by the European consensus?

Experts propose consistently using the term “keratinocyte cancer” instead of “non-melanoma skin cancer” when referring to carcinomas and precursors derived from keratinocytes.

What is expected to improve after adopting “keratinocyte cancer”?

Consistent use of the more precise term is expected to positively affect patient–physician communication and support correct scientific and clinical framing of this group of cancers.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Ezra