Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Evidence-Based Procedural Dermatology

Abstract

Nonmelanoma skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, with over one million cases in 2008. Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) represents approximately 20% of all skin cancer cases and is the second most common skin cancer after basal cell carcinoma (BCC). It is estimated the lifetime risk for developing an SCC in Caucasian males is 9–14% and in women, 4–9% [1]. The incidence of cSCC is increasing with the highest incidence occurring in patients over the age of 85 [2, 3].

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Miller DL, Weinstock MA. Nonmelanoma skin cancer in the United States: incidence. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1994;50:774–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Gray DR, Suman VJ, Clay RP, Harmsen WS, Roenigk RK. Trends in the population-based incidence of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin first diagnosed between 1984 and 1992. Arch Dermatol. 1997;133:735–40.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Holme SA, Malinovszky K, Roberts DL. Changing trends in non-melanoma skin cancer in South Wales, 1988–98. Br J Dermatol. 2000;143:1124–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. English DR, Armstrong BK, Kricker A, et al. Demographic characteristic, pigmentary and cutaneous risk factors for squamous cell carcinoma of the skin: a case-control study. Int J Cancer. 1998;76:628–34.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Hussein MR. Ultraviolet radiation and skin cancer: molecular mechanisms. J Cutan Pathol. 2005;32:191–205.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Jensen P, Hansen S, Moller B, et al. Skin cancer in kidney and heart transplant recipients and different long-term immunosuppressive therapy regimens. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1999;40:177–86.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Buettner PG, Raasch BA. Incidence rates of skin cancer in Townsville, Australia. Int J Cancer. 1998;78:587–93.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Salasche SJ. Epidemiology of actinic keratoses and squamous cell carcinoma. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2000;42:4–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Fuchs A, Marmur E. The kinetics of skin cancer: progression of actinic keratosis to squamous cell carcinoma. Dermatol Surg. 2007;33:1099.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Alam M, Ratner D. Cutaneous squamous-cell carcinoma. N Engl J Med. 2001;344:975–82.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Beham A, Regauer S, Soyer HP, Beham-Schmid C. Keratoacanthoma: a clinically distinct variant of well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Adv Anat Pathol. 1988;5:269.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Broadland DG, Zitelli JA. Surgical margins for excision of primary cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1992;27:241–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. Basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers (Version.1.2009). © 2008 National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. http://www.nccn.org. Accessed 18 Feb 2009.

  14. Kwa RE, Campana K, Moy RL. Biology of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Am J Acad Dermatol. 1992;26:1–26.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Motley R, Kersey P, Lawrence C. Multiprofessional guidelines for the management of the patient with primary cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Br J Plast Surg. 2003;56:85–91.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Motley R, Kersey P, Lawrence C. Multiprofessional guidelines for the management of the patient with primary cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Br J Dermatol. 2002;146:18–25.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Task Force on Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Guidelines of care for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Committee on Guidelines of Care. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1993;28:628–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Stasko T, Brown MD, Carucci JA, et al. Guidelines for the management of squamous cell carcinoma in organ transplant recipients. Dermatol Surg. 2004;30:642–50.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. American Joint Committee on Cancer. www.cancerstaging.org.Accessed September 2010.

  20. Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma. In: Edge SB, Byrd DR, Compton CC, editors. AJCC cancer staging manual. 7th ed. New York: Springer; 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Rowe DE, Carroll RJ, Day Jr CL. Prognostic factors for local recurrence, metastasis and survival rates in squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, ear, and lip. Implications for treatment modality selection. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1992;26:976–90.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Mullen JT, Feng L, Xing Y, et al. Invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the skin: defining a high-risk group. Ann Surg Oncol. 2006;13:902–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Moore BA, Weber RS, Prieto V, El-Naggar A, et al. Lymph node metastases from cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Laryngoscope. 2005;115:1561–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Cherpelis BS, Marcusen C, Lang PG. Prognostic factors for metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. Dermatol Surg. 2002;28:268–73.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Quaedvlieg PJF, Cretens DHKV, Epping GG, et al. Histopathological characteristics of metastasizing squamous cell carcinoma of the skin and lips. Histopathology. 2006;49:256–64.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Veness MK, Palme CE, Morgan GJ. High-risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Cancer. 2006;106:2389–96.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Breuninger H, Black B, Rassner G. Microstaging of squamous cell carcinomas. Am J Clin Pathol. 1990;94:624–7.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Breuninger H, Schaumburg-Lever G, Holzschuh J, Horny HP. Desmoplastic squamous cell carcinoma of skin and vermilion surface: a highly malignant subtype of skin cancer. Cancer. 1997;79:915–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Brantsch KD, Meisner C, Shonfisch B, et al. Analysis of risk factors determining prognosis of cutaneous squamous-cell carcinoma: a prospective study. Lancet Oncol. 2008;9:713–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Dinehart SM, Pollack SV. Metastases from squamous cell carcinoma of the skin and lip. An analysis of twenty-seven cases. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1989;21:241–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Kraus DH, Carew JF, Harrison LB. Regional lymph node metastasis from cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1998;124:582–7.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Afzelius LE, Gunarsson M, Nordgren H. Guidelines for prophylactic radical lymph node dissection in cases of carcinoma of the external ear. Head Neck Surg. 1980;5:361–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Vartanian JG, Carvalho AL, de Araujo Filho MJ, et al. Predictive factors and distribution of lymph node metastasis in lip cancer patients and their implications on the treatment of the neck. Oral Oncol. 2004;40:223–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Broders AC. Squamous-cell epithelioma of the Skin. Ann Surg. 1921;73:141–60.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Eroglu A, Berberoglu U, Berreroglu S. Risk factors related to locoregional recurrence in squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. J Surg Oncol. 1996;61:124–30.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Cassarino DS, DeRienzo DP, Barr RJ. Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: a comprehensive clinicopathologic classification. J Cutan Pathol. 2006;33:261–79.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Brantsch KD, Meisner C, Schonfisch B, et al. Analysis of risk factors determining prognosis of cutaneous squamous-cell carcinoma: a prospective study. Lancet Oncol. 2008;9:713–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Feasel AM, Brown TJ, Bogle MA, et al. Perineural invasion of cutaneous malignancies. Dermatol Surg. 2001;27:531–42.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Geopfert H, Dichtel WJ, Medina JE, Lindberg RD, Luna MD. Perineural invasion in squamous cell skin carcinoma of the head and neck. Am J Surg. 1984;148:542–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Frierson Jr HF, Cooper PH. Prognostic factors in squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip. Hum Pathol. 1986;17:346–54.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Czarnecki D, Staples MP, Mar A, et al. Metastases from squamous cell carcinoma of the skin in Southern Australia. Dermatology. 1994;189:52–4.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Berg D, Otley CC. Skin cancer in organ transplant recipients: epidemiology, pathogenesis, and management. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2002;47:1–17.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Smith KJ, Hamza S, Skelton H. Histologic features in primary cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas in immunocompromised patients focusing on organ transplant patients. Dermatol Surg. 2004;30:634–41.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Southwell KE, Chaplin JM, Eisenberg RL, et al. Effect of immunocompromise on metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in the parotid and neck. Head Neck. 2006;28:244–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Carucci JA, Martinez JC, Zeitouni N, et al. In-transit metastasis from primary cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in organ transplant recipients and nonimmunosuppressed patients: clinical characteristics, management, and outcome in a series of 21 patients. Dermatol Surg. 2004;30:651–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Manusow D, Weinerman BH. Subsequent neoplasia in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. J Am Med Assoc. 1975;232:267–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Mehrany K, Weenig RH, Pittelkow MR, et al. High recurrence rates of squamous cell carcinoma after Mohs’ surgery in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Dermatol Surg. 2005;31:38–42.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Mehrany K, Weenig RH, Lee KK, et al. Increased metastasis and mortality from cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005;53:1067–71.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Hartley BE, Searle AE, Breach NM, et al. Aggressive cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. J Laryngol Otol. 1996;110:694–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Dinehart SM, Pollack SV. Metastases from squamous cell carcinoma of the skin and lip. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1989;21:241–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Weinberg AS, Ogle CA, Shim EK. Metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: an update. Dermatol Surg. 2007;33:885–99.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Audet N, Palme CE, Gullane PJ, et al. Cutaneous metastatic squamous cell carcinoma to the parotid gland: analysis and outcome. Head Neck. 2004;26:727–32.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Andruchow JL, Veness MJ, Morgan GJ, et al. Implications for clinical staging of metastatic cutaneous squamous carcinoma of the head and neck based on a multicenter study of treatment outcomes. Cancer. 2006;106:1078–83.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. O’Brien CJ, McNeil EB, McMahon JD, et al. Significance of clinical stage, extent of surgery, and pathologic findings in metastatic cutaneous squamous carcinoma of the parotid gland. Head Neck. 2002;24:417–22.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Palme CE, O’Brien CJ, Veness MJ, et al. Extent of parotid disease influences outcome in patients with metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2003;129:750–3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Wagner JD, Evdokimow DZ, Weisberger E, et al. Sentinel node biopsy for high-risk nonmelanoma cutaneous malignancy. Arch Dermatol. 2004;140:75–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Renzi C, Caggiati A, Mannooranparampil TJ, et al. Sentinel lymph node biopsy for high risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: case series and review of the literature. Eur J Surg Oncol. 2007;33:364–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Ross AS, Schmults CD. Sentinel lymph node biopsy in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review of the English literature. Dermatol Surg. 2006;32:1309–21.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 160 East 53rd Street, 2nd floor, New York, NY, 10022, USA

    Erica H. Lee & Kishwer S. Nehal

  2. Department of Dermatology, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA

    Erica H. Lee & Vicki J. Levine

Authors
  1. Erica H. Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Vicki J. Levine
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kishwer S. Nehal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Erica H. Lee or Kishwer S. Nehal .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Aesthetic Surgery, Professor, Departments of Dermatology,, Chief, Section of Cutaneous and, Feinberg School of Med, Northwestern Univ, Chicago, 60611, Illinois, USA

    Murad Alam

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Lee, E.H., Levine, V.J., Nehal, K.S. (2012). Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma. In: Alam, M. (eds) Evidence-Based Procedural Dermatology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-09424-3_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-09424-3_3

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-09423-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-09424-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation