Distribution and clinicopathologic characteristics of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin: An analysis of 100 cases

Abstract

Background: The World Health Organization estimates that 2–3 million nonmelanocytic skin cancers occur annually worldwide and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is the most common of these tumors. This study analyzes the clinicopathological characteristics of SCC of the skin and the demographic profiles of the affected patients. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of dermatological malignancies from January 2004 to December 2019 in the Department of Histopathology, National Hospital Abuja, was conducted. Data were exported from the department software in comma-separated value format and demographic and other clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed as categorical variables. Descriptive and inferential statistics, bi-variate correlation (Spearman ranking), and binary logistic regression analysis were applied between demographic variables: age and sex as independent variables, and clinicopathological variables: clinical presentation, anatomical site, and histological types. P ≤ 0.05 is considered as statistically significant. Results: A total of 103 cases of cSCC were histologically confirmed during the study period, and these accounted for 25.8% of the dermatological malignancies within the period of the study. There were 59 (57.3%) males and 44 (42.7%) female patients with a male to female ratio 1.3:1. The mean age of the study participant was 35.9 ± 13 and the age range 4–81 years. The peak age incidence was within the third to fourth decade of life accounting for 69 (66.9%). Conclusion: cSCC was predominant in the head and neck region. Age was found to be a significant factor (P < 0.05), patients <50 years were 8 fold likely to develop SCC of the head and neck region (odds ratio = 7.731, 95% confidence interval = 1.257–47.560). Early preventive measures, early presentation, and proper evaluation could improve the outcome of SCC.