Squamous Cell Carcinoma - When should you worry?

Dr. David Roy • May 1, 2017

Squamous Cell | What is it | Pine Belt Dermatology

Today we are discussing squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) because it is a topic that I am very passionate about and one that I feel causes a fair bit of confusion. SCC is the second most common form of skin cancer and, in the South, the number of people who die from SCC of the skin is about equal to the number of people who die from melanoma. I have heard many patients and, unfortunately, several physicians say that SCC should not be of great concern and that I make too big of a deal out of this particular cancer. The truth is, not all SCCs are extremely aggressive. While a significant number of these cancers are treated with simple surgery or a burn and scrape technique known as electrodessication and curettage, there is a subset of these tumors that behave in a very aggressive manner. Some of these tumors can be as aggressive and deadly as an invasive malignant melanoma. There are particular clinical and histopathological (microscopic) findings of SCC which suggest a nastier course and we will discuss those later in the blog.

The question then becomes, why are some skin cancers so bad while others seem to be so easily treated? That is a very good question and a very important question. The answer, however, is quite complicated as there is a lot about cancer in general that we do not understand. Medicine itself is imperfect. We would like to think that we have all the answers, but the reality is that we make assumptions and judgments based on the information that we have. Unfortunately that information is incomplete. The picture is still being painted. We learn everyday that diseases themselves are difficult to put into neat little boxes, with the truth being that most diseases run a spectrum from relatively benign to very destructive, and everything in between. What makes us better equipped to anticipate and handle difficult situations is our experience with diseases over time. What we have observed and recorded (statistical and historical data) help us to make sound and educated judgment calls in specific situations. As time goes on, our understanding will grow and hopefully one day we will be able to answer the question posed earlier.

So what types of data guide us when it comes to SCC? There are several factors to consider when deciding if a SCC may behave in an aggressive manner and it is important to ask your doctor specifically about the nature of your cancer. These factors include the site of the lesion, the size of the lesion, the depth of the lesion, the histopathological subtype (meaning what specific pattern of growth, and associated microscopic findings, that are noted on the pathology report), recurrent/previously treated lesions, tumors previously treated with radiation, rapidly growing tumors, tumors at sites of chronic inflammation (like swollen and red lower legs or areas of slowly healing or chronic wounds), and if there is tumor seen invading the nerves and/or blood vessels.

So what might you want to know about your biopsy? There are several different types of SCC. Some are referred to as squamous cell carcinoma in situ. This means the cancer is confined to the upper part of the skin known as the epidermis and is not considered an invasive tumor. The first thing you want to know is whether or not your cancer is invasive, meaning it has spread to the lower part of the skin, known as the dermis. Next, I would recommend asking your physician if your tumor is considered a high risk tumor. High risk tumors are defined as having one or more of the following features:

Depth of invasion of the tumor is greater than or equal to 2 millimeters
Deepest part of the tumor involves the bottom layer of the dermis, which is referred to as the reticular dermis (lowest part of the skin itself before you get to the fat)
Presence of perineural invasion, meaning the cells have spread directly around the nerves
Lesion is located on the ears, or lips
Tumor is what we call poorly or undifferentiated (this means the tumor cells do not resemble the cells that they are derived from and are behaving in an unpredictable manner)

When it comes to differentiation, there are four classifications that are used - well differentiated, moderately differentiated, poorly differentiated and undifferentiated. Well differentiated tumors are the most common and least aggressive. Moderately differentiated tumors are more aggressive than well differentiated tumors, and poorly and undifferentiated tumors are the most aggressive and most likely to spread. Certain types of SCC (subtypes) are considered to be more aggressive than others as well. These include the following:

Acantholytic
Adenoidal
Adenosquamous
Desmoplastic
Spindle
Verrucous spindle cell

Why should you be worried about SCC? When it comes to SCC, 2% of patients with a typical well differentiated SCC could die from their disease. That is two out of every 100 patients. When it comes to more aggressive tumors, 14% of patients with moderately differentiated SCCs could die, and for poorly differentiated tumors, that number jumps to 53%. So, 53 out of every 100 patients with poorly differentiated tumors could succumb to their disease. In patients whose tumors demonstrate perineural invasion, the size of the involved nerve is very important. If the nerve is greater than 0.1 millimeter in diameter, the risk of death was 32%. Thus, SCC can, in some cases, behave in a very aggressive and deadly manner.

Treatment is tailored to the specific tumor and specific patient situation. Most non-aggressive tumors should be treated with surgery or electrodessication and curettage. More aggressive tumors should be treated with surgery. Mohs surgery is a highly effective treatment option for SCC and is considered the best option in certain circumstances. Following surgery, we will sometimes recommend radiation therapy and possible lymph node biopsy, but these are only used in extreme cases. Your doctor will recommend a treatment plan and remember, it never hurts to get a second opinion if you are unsure.

I hope this answers some of your questions about SCC. Let us know if you have any other questions about this or any other topic.

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