Dermoscopic and reflectance confocal microscopy features of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Background

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin is a highly prevalent neoplasm. The management and the prognosis of this tumor is dependent on its invasiveness and its grade of differentiation.

Objectives

To evaluate whether specific dermoscopic and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) criteria can predict the diagnosis of invasive SCC vs in situ SCC and poorly differentiated compared with well- and moderately differentiated SCC.

Methods

Dermoscopic and RCM images of SCCs were retrospectively evaluated for the presence of predefined criteria.

Results

Among 143 SCC, 121 cases had a complete set of images and thus were included in the study set. The head and neck area was the most frequently involved body site (74/121; 61.1%) followed by extremities (36/121, 29.7%) and trunk (11/121, 9.1%). Seventy tumors were in situ (57.8%), while 51 were invasive (42.1%), of these 11 were poorly differentiated (21.5%), 16 were moderately differentiated (31.3%), and 24 were well differentiated (47.0%). Chi-squared analysis demonstrated that invasive SCC were characterized by polymorphic vessels, erosion/ulceration, architectural disarrangement, speckled nucleated cells in the dermis, irregularly dilated vessels and absence of hyperkeratosis. Botton-hole vessels, white structureless areas and dotted or glomerular vessels were significantly associated with in situ lesions. Poorly differentiated SCC were typified by red areas, erosion/ulceration and architectural disarrangement. Well or moderately differentiated SCC were associated with white areas and speckled nucleated cells in the epidermis.

Conclusion

Clinical, dermscopic and RCM images provide useful information that should be integrated in order to achieve the optimal therapeutic management for the patient.

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