Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Cutaneous
Basics
Description
Cutaneous squamous cell cancer is the second most common nonmelanoma skin cancer after basal cell carcinoma (1).
Epidemiology
Nonmelanoma skin cancer is the most common malignancy worldwide. Historically, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) has been thought to account for 20% of nonmelanoma skin cancers, thus being the second most common malignancy after basal cell carcinoma (2),(3). However, recent data indicate that the ratio of basal cell carcinoma to SCC is 1.0 in the U.S. Medicare population (1). An accurate incidence of cutaneous SCC is not known since this is not required to be reported to national cancer registries.
Incidence
Etiology and Pathophysiology
Genetics
Some of the hereditary disorders have genes that are associated with cutaneous squamous cell cancer (5). They include:
Risk Factors
- Most SCCs arise in:
- Chronic skin conditions (5)
- Burn scars, hidradenitis suppurativa, chronic osteomyelitis, discoid lupus erythematosus, lichen planus, lichen sclerosus et atrophicus
- Inherited genetic conditions (5)
- Albinism, epidermolysis bullosa, xeroderma pigmentosum
- Ionizing radiation exposure (6)
- Arsenic exposure (5),(6)
- Ulcers (6)
- Bowen disease (SCC in situ) (6)
- Erythroplasia of Queyrat (SCC in situ of penis) (6)
- HPV infection (6, 11, 16, 18) (6)
- Treatment with BRAF inhibitors (vemurafenib and dabrafenib) (7)
General Prevention
Commonly Associated Conditions
Actinic keratosis is the precursor of cutaneous squamous cell cancer, Bowen disease, erythroplasia of Queyrat (4).
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