A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
George A. Zakhem, MD, MBA; Akshay N. Pulavarty, MPH; John Carucci, MD; et al
Questions Are patient risk factors and tumor characteristics associated with poor treatment outcomes in patients with primary cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), and which treatment modalities minimize poor outcomes?
Findings In this systematic review and meta-analysis of 129 studies with more than 125 000 patients with cSCC, several patient risk factors, tumor characteristics, and treatment modalities were associated with poor outcomes. The highest risks for local recurrence and disease-specific death were associated with tumor invasion beyond subcutaneous fat, and the highest risk of metastasis was associated with perineural invasion.
Meaning The findings of this meta-analysis demonstrate the prognostic value of different risk factors and effectiveness of treatment modalities; as such, these findings can guide prognostication, workup, and treatment of cSCC. To read further, click here