oa Editorial

The article in this issue concerning Bowen's disease brings to mind the overall increasing incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancer. Rogers et al. [1] performed an analysis to estimate the incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) in the US population in 2006, and to evaluate trends in numbers of procedures for skin cancer treatment. They performed a descriptive analysis of population-based claims and US Census Bureau data combined with a populationbased cross-sectional survey using multiple US government data sets, including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Fee-for-Service Physicians Claims databases, to calculate totals of skin cancer procedures performed for Medicare beneficiaries in 1992 and from 1996 to 2006 and related parameters. The National Ambulatory Medical Care Service database was utilized to estimate NMSC-related office visits. They combined these to estimate totals of new skin cancer diagnoses and affected individuals in the overall US population [1]. They found that the total number of procedures for skin cancer in the Medicare fee-for-service population increased by 76.9% from 1,158,298 in 1992 to 2,048,517 in 2006. From 2002 to 2006 (the years for which the databases allow procedure linkage to patient demographics and diagnoses), the number of procedures for NMSC in the Medicare population increased by 16.0%. In this period, the number of procedures per affected patient increased by 1.5%, and the number of persons with at least 1 procedure increased by 14.3%. They concluded that the number of skin cancers in Medicare beneficiaries increased dramatically over the years 1992 to 2006, due mainly to an increase in the number of affected individuals [1]. The increasing trends in the incidence of these malignancies should encourage physicians to carefully examine patients' skin, as well as educate individuals to practice proper skin protection. This issue also covers other important issues, including the use of antibiotics in bronchiectasis and vascular effects of estrogenic menopausal hormone therapy. Oncologic reviews include Esophagitis, Treatment-Related Toxicity in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Positron Emission Tomography for Neck Evaluation Following Definitive, Treatment with Chemoradiotherapy for Locoregionally Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, and Therapeutic Intervention in Cancer and Chronic Viral Infections: Antibody Mediated Manipulation of PD-1/PD-L1 Interaction. The final article examines the prevention and treatment of diabetic retinopathy with fenofibrate. It is my hope that you will find this issue educational and enjoyable.