This systematic review and meta-analysis estimated the pooled prevalence of skin cancer (SC) and actinic keratosis (AK) among individuals with albinism, drawing from 12 cross-sectional and cohort studies identified via PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases.
Among 1,747 individuals with albinism, pooled AK prevalence was 38% (95% CI 17.7–60.3; I² = 99%) and SC prevalence was 19% (95% CI 13.5–24.4; I² = 89%). Within SC cases, SCC was most common at 55.4% (95% CI 36.2–73.8), BCC at 33.7% (95% CI 19.6–49.2), and malignant melanoma at 0% (95% CI 0.00–0.56).
- Heterogeneity was very high across all outcomes (I² up to 99%), driven by differences in study design, diagnostic criteria, and geographic variation — making pooled estimates difficult to interpret precisely. - Study pool was predominantly cross-sectional, limiting causal or temporal inferences. - Lack of detailed patient-level data (e.g., age, UV exposure, albinism subtype) prevented meaningful subgroup analyses.
Nearly 1 in 5 people with albinism may have skin cancer, and nearly 2 in 5 may have actinic keratosis — clinicians should prioritize regular full-body skin surveillance and aggressive photoprotection counseling in this population. SCC is the dominant skin cancer subtype in albinism; early detection programs should focus on this lesion type, particularly in high-prevalence regions such as sub-Saharan Africa.
