在美国,澳大利亚,欧洲,基底细胞癌是最常见的恶性肿瘤,且发病率在增加。[9]Sterry W; European Dermatology Forum Guideline Committee. Guidelines: the management of basal cell carcinoma. Eur J Dermatol. 2006;16:467-475.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17101465?tool=bestpractice.com在英国的发病率预估为每100 000男性中新增病例为128例,每10 000女性中新增病例为105例。澳大利亚的年发病率更高,每100 000男性中2058例,每100 000女性中1195例。据评估,在美国,基底细胞癌的年发病率超过一百万例。[3]Lear W, Dahlke E, Murray CA. Basal cell carcinoma: review of epidemiology, pathogenesis, and associated risk factors. J Cutan Med Surg. 2007;11:19-30.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17274935?tool=bestpractice.com经年龄标化后,美国每100 000白人的发病率为男性407至485,女性212至253。[10]Miller DL, Weinstock MA. Nonmelanoma skin cancer in the United States: incidence. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1994;30:774-778.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8176018?tool=bestpractice.com
基底细胞癌的发病率在40岁之后明显增高。由于较多的暴露于日光下,基底细胞癌在年轻人中的发病率也在稳固增长。[11]Ormerod A, Rajpara S, Craig F. Basal cell carcinoma. BMJ Clinical Evid. April 2010. http://clinicalevidence.bmj.com (last accessed 21 July 2016).http://clinicalevidence.bmj.com/ceweb/conditions/skd/1719/1719_background.jsp