Korean J Dermatol.  1996 Oct;34(5):775-783.

Clinical and Histopathological Observation of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Over 10 Year from 1985 to 1994

• Lee JB
• Lee SC
• Won YH
• Chun IK

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous squarnous cell carcinoma(SCC) is the first or second to basal cell carcinoma in prevalence and its incidence is increasing in Korea. The biology of squamous cell carcinoma is reviewed under the broad areas of incidence, site, etiology, histologic patterns, metastatic rate, and therapeutic modalities.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to investigate recent trends of cutaneous SCC in clinical and histopathological aspects in Korea.
METHODS
Both clinical and histopathological studies from the biopsy specimens were performed in 68 cases of SCC who visited the Department of Dermatology, Chonnam University Hospital during the last 10 years from 1985 to 1994.
RESULTS
1. The etiologic factors were found in 29 cases amongst a total of 68 cases. The most common etiologic factor was a burn scar(13 cases). The other etiologic factors followed in this order, actinic keratosis(5 cases), chronic ulcers and smoking(3 cases each), trauma induced scars(2 cases), Bowens disease and chronic radiodermatitis and drugs(1 case each). 2. In histopathologic classification, common differentiated types showing various stages of differentiation counted for 60 cases. Less commonly. acantholytic(1 case), spindle(2 cases), and verrucous(5 cases) were observed. 3. In determining the relatiorlship between the clinical aspects and rnetastasis, several etiologic factor s were found; more than 1 year in duration, more than 2cm in diameter, mucosal lesions such as lower lip and penis, and SCC caused from the previous burn scar or chronic ulcer. In terms of the relationship between histopathologic aspects and metastasis, the depth of cell invasion was more important than the digree of differentiation in determining the potency of metastasis.
CONCLUSION
This study revealed that the incidence of cutaneous squmous cell carcinoma in Korea is increasing, and dermatologists should know the importance of the tumor in both diagnosis and treatment.

MeSH Terms

Actins
Biology
Biopsy
Bowen's Disease
Burns
Carcinoma, Basal Cell
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell*
Cicatrix
Classification
Dermatology
Diagnosis
Incidence
Jeollanam-do
Korea
Lip
Male
Neoplasm Metastasis
Penis
Prevalence
Radiodermatitis
Ulcer
Actins