Squamous cell carcinoma, abbreviated as SCC, also known as epidermoid carcinoma, is a malignant tumor originating from the skin or mucosal prickle cells. This disease may be related to long-term sun exposure or contact with tar substances and arsenic agents. It often occurs on the basis of certain skin diseases, such as chronic ulcers, lupus vulgaris, chronic discoid lupus erythematosus, mucosal leukoplakia, burn scars, and radiation dermatitis. It has a higher degree of malignancy than basal cell carcinoma and is prone to metastasis. The key lies in early diagnosis and early treatment.

bubble_chart Clinical Manifestations

1. is commonly seen in elderly people over 50 years old and mostly occurs at the junction of skin and mucous membranes.
2. Initially, it appears as a round, raised, dry, wart-like nodule or a red, hard patch with some scales on the surface. Later, ulceration develops and gradually expands, invading deeper tissues, with the edges turning outward or forming cauliflower-like masses, accompanied by foul odor and spontaneous pain. In the advanced stage, lymph node metastasis and visceral metastasis may occur.

bubble_chart Diagnosis

1. It is more common in elderly individuals over 50 years old, especially males;
2. it mainly occurs on the head, face, lower lip, oral cavity, back of the hand, glans penis, and vulva;
3. the initial skin lesion is a wart-like elevation or a red, hard patch, which later forms an ulcer with raised and everted edges or cauliflower-like hyperplasia;
4. histopathology: infiltrative squamous cell masses can be seen in the dermis, accompanied by varying proportions of atypical cells and dyskeratotic cells.

bubble_chart Treatment Measures

1. Surgical Treatment: The preferred option for cases without metastasis and with good differentiation. The excised tissue should be sent for pathological examination to determine if the resection is complete, with lymph node dissection added if necessary;
2. Radiation Therapy: Suitable for elderly or frail patients, those with surgical contraindications, or cases where the cancer has invaded cartilage or bone, or involves lymph node metastasis;
3. Laser and Cryotherapy: Primarily indicated for superficial, well-differentiated lesions;
4. Local and Systemic Chemotherapy: Such as topical application of 5-Fu ointment, or intramuscular or intravenous injection of bleomycin.

1. For lesions too large for surgery or actinic carcinomas no larger than 15mm, as well as well-differentiated squamous cell carcinomas, local destructive therapies like laser or cryotherapy may be used;
2. For poorly differentiated carcinomas in the head and neck region of elderly patients without bone invasion, radiation therapy or intra-arterial infusion of cisplatin may be chosen;
3. For smaller lesions, surgical excision is applicable;
4. For advanced-stage squamous cell carcinoma, when the above methods are no longer suitable, topical or intramuscular 5-Fu or other medications may be used for treatment.

bubble_chart Cure Criteria

1. Cure: The margins of the excised specimen show no cancer cell infiltration upon pathological examination, or the lesion disappears after treatments such as radiotherapy, laser therapy, or chemotherapy;
2. Improvement: The lesion shrinks after treatments like radiotherapy or laser therapy;
3. No cure: The lesion cannot be excised and requires further surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy.