A Review of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Management

Abstract

Context: Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) is the second most common type of skin cancer and its incidence continues to rise worldwide. While the majority of CSCCs have excellent prognosis, a subset have the propensity to cause poor outcomes. Evidence Acquisition: A thorough Pubmed search was done and a collection of CSCC-relevant articles were selected based on the expert opinion. Results: A number of high-risk factors have been identified including perineural invasion (PNI), desmoplastic growth pattern, poor differentiation, high risk location and large diameter. Various staging systems have been developed based on these high-risk factors. Radiologic imaging is important for high-stage tumors and is likely associated with more aggressive management. Conclusions: Although surgical management is the gold standard, newer therapies such as programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) inhibitors show promise for locally advanced or metastatic disease. Despite advances in treatment, early diagnosis and prevention of CSCC is still the most important measure to ensure good outcomes.