METASTASES IN DERMATOLOGICAL PATIENTS WITH SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA

Patients (211) in whom squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin was diagnosed between 1950-1959 were followed up from Jan. 1, 1976, to establish the incidence of metastases. A systematic study was carried out through follow-up examinations and tracing through population registers. Metastases was found in 3.3% of 153 patients with skin SCC and 11% of 55 patients with labial SCC. Three patients with genital SCC were free of metastases. The available literature on patients with SCC of osteomyelitic foci and scars from burns or X-ray treatment indicate that sharp distinctions must be made among 3 groups of SCC: mucocutaneous, primary cutaneous and cutaneous SCC secondary to inflammatory and degenerative processes. The incidence of metastases in the 3 groups is approximately 11%, 3% and 10%-30%, respectively. Skin SCC should be considered a malignant tumor with a higher incidence of metastases than previously assumed.