Evaluation of peritumoral inflammatory infiltration and its relationship with different prognostic factors in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Background Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is one of the most common skin cancers. Prognostic factors, such as tumor thickness, play a crucial role in the management of these patients. Peritumoral inflammatory infiltration has been shown to influence the prognosis of malignancies. This study aimed to determine different prognostic factors and investigate peritumoral inflammatory infiltration in patients with cSCC. Methods The study population consisted of 272 patients with a diagnosis of cSCC. Clinical data, such as age and tumor location, were extracted from pathology reports, and other information was gathered by contacting the patients via phone calls. All pathology slides were reviewed by an expert dermatopathologist, and the histopathological features and prognostic factors were evaluated. Results The highest number of tumors was found in the scalp and forehead (21.3%), while the lowest number was found in the trunk and thighs (3.31%). The highest mean tumor thickness was observed in the group with no inflammatory cells; on the other hand, the lowest tumor thickness was found in the group of lymphocytes and plasma cells. The group with severe eosinophilic infiltration had the highest mean tumor thickness, while the group with no eosinophilic infiltration had the lowest mean tumor thickness. Conclusion Depending on the type of peritumoral inflammatory cells, the prognosis of cSCC may be predictable.