Abstract BACKGROUND: Skin cancer is common in Brazil and is related to sun exposure, among other risk factors. There are no data on the incidence of malignant skin neoplasm in rural workers in western Paraná. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the incidence and profile of rural workers who were diagnosed with skin cancer at a reference service in Cascavel, western Paraná, in the last five years (2011-2016). METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out through a review of the anatomopathological reports of rural workers diagnosed with skin cancer at Cascavel Oncology Center (CEONC), in Cascavel. The following variables were collected: year of diagnosis, age, gender, injury location and histological subtype. RESULTS: A total of 681 cases of malignant epithelial neoplasia were identified, with a higher frequency in the 61-70 age group. Data analysis showed an increase of about 210% in the occurrence of skin cancers in the last 5 years. The cephalic region was the most affected, and the most common histological subtype was nodular basal cell carcinoma. There was no association between gender and location. STUDY LIMITATIONS: This is a retrospective study and analysis of a secondary data bank. CONCLUSION: This study is a regional estimation of the incidence of cutaneous neoplasms and provides evidence of a considerable increase in the number of diagnoses in rural workers from western Paraná, Brazil. Moreover, it is possible to conclude that the sample group studied is at risk of developing skin cancer.

Molusco contagioso é uma dermatovirose causada por um poxvírus, sendo mais prevalente em crianças com até 5 anos de idade. Um segundo pico de incidência é encontrado em adultos jovens. Com o objetivo de demonstrar sua ultraestrutura três lesões foram curetadas sem rompê-las, cortadas transversalmente e processadas de rotina para microscopia eletrônica de varredura. A estrutura oval do Molusco contagioso pôde ser facilmente observada, no seu centro há uma umbilicação central e logo abaixo observa-se um túnel queratinizado. Com aumentos progressivos observam-se proliferações semelhantes à epiderme e áreas de células dispostas em mosaico. Com grandes aumentos estruturas arredondadas medindo 0,4 micron são vistas no final do túnel queratinizado e na superfície da lesão.

Molluscum contagiosum is a disease caused by a poxvirus. It is more prevalent in children up to 5 years of age. There is a second peak of incidence in young adults. In order to examine its ultrastructure, three lesions were curetted without disruption, cut transversely with a scalpel, and routinely processed for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The oval structure of molluscum contagiosum could be easily identified. In its core, there was a central umbilication and just below this depression, there was a keratinized tunnel. Under higher magnification, a proliferation similar to the epidermis was seen. Moreover, there were areas of cells disposed like a mosaic. Under higher magnification, rounded structures measuring 0.4 micron could be observed at the end of the keratinized tunnel and on the surface of the lesion.