Squamous Cell Cancer, can it spread?

Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (cSCC) is a type of skin cancer that affects the squamous cells located in the outer layer of the skin. It is the second most common type of skin cancer and often occurs due to exposure to UV radiation from the sun or other sources.

Risk factors for developing cSCC include age (the risk increases with age), fair skin, a history of sunburns, weakened immune system, prior skin cancer diagnosis, multiple moles, and actinic keratoses (precancerous skin growths).

One of the main concerns with cSCC is the risk of metastasis, or the spread of the cancer to other parts of the body. The size and thickness of the tumor, presence of perineural invasion (invasion of the nerves near the lesion), location of the lesion, presence of ulceration (breakdown of the skin), and overall health and immune function of the patient are some of the factors that can increase the risk of metastasis.

Studies have shown that tumors larger than 2mm have a higher risk of metastasis compared to smaller tumors. Tumors thicker than 2mm also have a higher risk of metastasis compared to thinner tumors. The presence of perineural invasion has been found to increase the risk of metastasis by 4-10 times compared to cases without perineural invasion.

Although the specific statistics for the risk of metastasis associated with location of the lesion, presence of ulceration, and overall health and immune function of the patient are not as well established, they may still play a role.

It is important to be aware of any changes in the skin and to have suspicious growths evaluated by a dermatologist as soon as possible. Early detection is key to increasing the chances of successful treatment.

References:

American Cancer Society. (2022). Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/skin-cancer/types/squamous-cell-carcinoma.html
National Cancer Institute. (2021). Squamous Cell Skin Cancer. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/types/skin/patient/squamous-cell-skin-treatment-pdq

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