SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA

In medicine, 'squamous cell carcinoma' is a form of cancer of the carcinoma type that may occur in many different organs, including the skin, mouth, esophagus, prostate, lungs, and cervix. It is a malignant tumor of epithelium that shows squamous cell differentiation. This type of cancer can be seen on the skin, lips, inside the mouth, throat or esophagus. This type of cancer is characterized by red, scaly skin that becomes an open sore.

Contents

Risk Factors

Terminology

Skin

Prostate

Lung

External links

Risk Factors

Squamous cell carcinoma affects more than 200,000 people in the United States alone every year. Smoking is a significant risk factor. Other risk factors include sun exposure, radiation therapy, exposure to carcinogens, chronic skin irritation or inflammation, genetic diseases, and presence of premalignant lesions. Squamous cell cancer can also occur after organ (e.g. heart, kidney) transplantation. Anti-rejection drugs, that ensure the organ is not rejected by the body, can also suppress the immune system. This can be a major factor towards squamous cell skin cancer.

Terminology

A carcinoma can be characterized as either ''in situ'' (confined to the original site) or ''invasive''.

Skin

Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin is often caused by long term exposure to the sun. To be diagnosed, a biopsy is done where a sample is taken and examined under a microscope by a Pathologist. If it is found to be cancerous, a surgery is done to remove it.
Squamous cell carcinomas account for about 20% of non-melanoma skin cancers, (with basal cell carcinomas accounting for about 80%), and are clinically more significant because of their ability to metastasize. Squamous cell carcinoma is usually developed in the epithelial layer of the skin and sometimes in various mucous membranes of the body.

Prostate

When associated with the prostate, squamous cell carcinoma is very aggressive in nature. It is difficult to detect as there is no increase in prostate specific antigen levels seen; meaning that the cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage.

Lung

When associated with the lung, it often causes ectopic production of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP), resulting in hypercalcemia.

External links

★ Information on Squamous Cell Carcinoma from The Skin Cancer Foundation

★ Article by Stephen D Hess, MD, PhD

★ DermNet NZ: Squamous cell carcinoma

★ Squamous cell carcinoma in transplant recipients