Overview
Diagnosis
Tests and procedures used to diagnose squamous cell carcinoma of the skin include:
Physical exam. A health care professional reviews your medical history and examines your skin for signs of squamous cell carcinoma.
Biopsy. A biopsy involves removing a sample of tissue for lab testing. A member of your care team may cut away, shave off or punch out a portion of the area that appears abnormal. The sample is examined in a laboratory to determine if cancer cells are present.
More information
Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin care at Mayo Clinic
Skin biopsy
Treatment
Most squamous cell carcinomas of the skin can be treated with minor surgery or with medicines applied directly to the skin. The treatment approach depends on the location of the cancer, its size, how quickly it is growing and personal preference.
Treatments for very small skin cancers
When the cancer is small, shallow and unlikely to spread, less-invasive treatment options may include:
• Curettage and electrodessication. This procedure removes the surface of the cancer using a scraping tool called a curet, followed by an electric needle to destroy the cancer cells at the base.
• Laser therapy. A concentrated beam of light is used to destroy abnormal growths with minimal impact on surrounding tissue and a lower risk of bleeding or scarring.
• Freezing. Also called cryosurgery, this method freezes cancer cells with liquid nitrogen and may be done after scraping the surface of the cancer.
• Photodynamic therapy. A light-sensitizing liquid is applied to the skin, and later a targeted light is used to destroy cancer cells. This treatment may be used alone or combined with other methods.
Treatments for larger skin cancers
More-invasive options may be recommended for larger cancers or those that extend deeper into the skin, such as:
• Simple excision. The cancerous area and a margin of healthy skin are removed. In some cases, a wider margin may be taken.
• Mohs surgery. The cancer is removed layer by layer, with each layer examined under a microscope until no abnormal cells remain. This helps preserve as much healthy skin as possible.
• Radiation therapy. High-energy beams are used to kill cancer cells. This may be recommended after surgery when there’s a higher risk of recurrence or for people who cannot undergo surgery.
Treatments for skin cancer that spreads beyond the skin
If squamous cell carcinoma spreads to other areas of the body, treatment may involve medicines such as:
• Chemotherapy. Strong medicines destroy cancer cells and may be used alone or in combination with targeted therapy or radiation when the cancer spreads to lymph nodes or other organs.
• Targeted therapy. These medicines block specific chemicals that support cancer cell growth, causing the cells to die. Targeted therapy is often combined with chemotherapy.
• Immunotherapy. This treatment helps the immune system identify and attack cancer cells that typically hide from immune defenses. It may be used for advanced squamous cell carcinoma when other treatments are not suitable.
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