Squamous cells are the main structural cells of the epidermis (the outer layer of the skin). Squamous cell carcinoma, or spinocellular carcinoma, is a type of cancer that arises from these cells.
It's the second most common type of skin cancer after basal cell carcinoma and usually develops in areas exposed to the sun.
It appears as a scaly red area with a scabby surface. It is thick and irregular in appearance and often has non-healing ulcers on its surface.
It is diagnosed through the patient's medical history, their records and a biopsy.
To treat the tumour, it can be scraped or burnt with an electric needle (curettage and electrodesiccation), surgically removed, destroyed with a cold application (cryosurgery) or by applying chemotherapeutic drugs to the skin.
- Asuquo ME, Ngim O, Ugare G, et al. Principales neoplasias malignas dermatológicas encontradas en el departamento de cirugía de un hospital universitario en el sur de Nigeria. Am J Clin Dermatol 2008; 9:383.
- Pekarek B, Buck S, Osher L. Una revisión completa de las úlceras de Marjolin: diagnóstico y tratamiento. J Am Col Certif Wound Spec 2011; 3:60.
- Directrices de la Red Nacional Integral del Cáncer (NCCN), versión 1.2021 Cáncer de piel de células escamosas. https://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/squamous.pdf (Consultado el 18 de junio de 2021)
- Kauvar AN, Arpey CJ, Hruza G, et al. Consenso para el tratamiento del cáncer de piel no melanoma, Parte II: Carcinoma de células escamosas, incluido un análisis de costos de los métodos de tratamiento. Dermatol Surg 2015; 41:1214.
