Eruptive Non-melanoma Skin Cancers/Squamous Atypia Following Skin Surgery. Report of Two New Cases, Concise Review of the Literature With Special Emphasis on Treatment Options.

Abstract

Eruptive cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (ESCC), eruptive squamous atypia (ESA) and eruptive keratoacanthomas (EKA) are different terms used to describe the occurrence of multiple cutaneous squamous neoplasms after skin surgery, laser treatment, traumas, such as tattoos, and local or systemic medical treatments. ESCC have been reported to arise at the sites of skin surgery, including the area affected by the primary tumor and split thickness skin graft (STSG) donor and recipient sites. The aim of this study is to report 2 additional cases of ESCC after skin surgery and make a critical revision of the literature, analyzing the clinical, histological features and outcomes of ESCC after cutaneous surgery. Up to August 2021, according to our systematic review of the literature, we have collected 19 published articles and a total of 34 patients, including our 2 cases. The results of this review highlight five red flags that clinicians should consider: (i) lower and upper limbs represent the cutaneous site with the highest risk, representing 83,78% of the cases in the literature; (ii) the median time to onset of ESCC is approximately 6 weeks; (iii) primary cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas were completely excised with free margins on histologic examination in the totality of the cases of the literature, and therefore ESCC should not be considered recurrences; (iv) any surgical technique involves a risk to promote ESCC; (v) treatment of ESCC includes medical treatment, surgery or combined surgical and medical treatment. This review highlights 5 red flags which could support clinicians in the diagnosis and management of ESCC after skin surgery.