Skin cancer and actinic keratosis in people with albinism: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: People with albinism, a genetic condition characterized by reduced melanin production, have an increased risk of developing skin cancer due to their diminished photoprotection. The global prevalence of albinism is estimated at 1 in 17,000 individuals, but it varies significantly by region, being more common in certain parts of Africa. Despite this heightened vulnerability, data on the prevalence of skin cancer and its subtypes in this population remain limited. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Skin Cancer (SC) and Actinic Keratosis (AK) among patients with albinism. METHODS: statistic. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates a high global prevalence of actinic keratosis (AC) and skin cancer (SC) among individuals with albinism, reinforcing the need for targeted surveillance, preventive strategies, and treatments tailored to this high-risk population. Overall, heterogeneity remained high across outcomes despite the exclusion of individual studies. STUDY LIMITATIONS: The results show persistent heterogeneity driven by differences in study design, diagnostic criteria, and the predominance of cross-sectional data. Future research should aim to address these gaps by employing longitudinal designs, standardizing diagnostic criteria, and including detailed patient-level data.