Squamous cell carcinoma clinical features
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Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin Microchapters |
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Differentiating Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin from other Diseases |
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aditya Govindavarjhulla, M.B.B.S. [2], Raviteja Guddeti, M.B.B.S. [3]
Overview
Most squamous cell carcinomas arise on the sun-damaged skin of the head and neck, with fewer lesions arising on the extremities and occasional tumors occurring on the trunk. Early lesions frequently present as a red, scaly spots. Later lesions may form nodules or firm plaques, either of which can ulcerate ( http://tray.dermatology.uiowa.edu). Diagnosis is established by biopsy and histopathological confirmation. Complete excision is curative in the vast majority of cases. Occasionally squamous cell carcinoma will invade along the perineural layer of peripheral nerves and will extend well beyond the clinically apparent mass. Local recurrence is more common in these instances and when present on the head, direct intracranial extension may occur. Metastases to draining lymph nodes occurs in a minority of cases and disseminated disease is the cause of most squamous cell carcinoma-related deaths. Higher rates of metastasis (~15%) are observed with primary lesions of the lips or ears (Rowe et al., 1992). Radiation therapy is helpful in some cases of locally recurrent disease in which complete resection is difficult to achieve and in cases of limited metastatic disease.