Squamous cell skin cancer

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Bowen's disease on the hand	Cheilitis, actinic	Keratoacanthoma	Keratoacanthoma
Skin cancer, squamous cell - close-up	Skin cancer, squamous cell on the hands	Squamous cell cancer	Squamous cell carcinoma - invasive

Squamous cell skin cancer is a type of tumor that affects the middle layer of the skin.

Cancer - skin - squamous cell; Skin cancer - squamous cell

Squamous cell cancer results when cells in the middle part of the skin start to change. The changes may begin in normal skin or in skin that has been injured or inflamed. Most skin cancers occur on skin that is regularly exposed to sunlight or other ultraviolet radiation. It is most often seen in those over age 50.

Risks for squamous cell skin cancer include:

• Exposure to sunlight and ultraviolet radiation
• Older age
• Having light-colored skin, blue or green eyes, or blond or red hair
• Chemical pollution
• A large number of x-rays
• Arsenic

Squamous cell cancer spreads faster than basal cell cancer, but still may be relatively slow-growing. It can spread (metastasize) to other locations, including internal organs.

See also: Actinic keratosis

Review Date: 02/12/2007
Reviewed By: Kevin Berman, MD, PhD, Associate, Atlanta Center for Dermatologic Disease, Atlanta, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.