One of the forms of a benign tumor of the skin is squamous papilloma. This tumor originates from the squamous skin epithelium. The tumor develops mainly in people over sixty to seventy years old. In young people, squamous papilloma can develop in a place that is constantly susceptible to trauma. Tumor growth is slow.
Externally, the papilloma looks like a single warty formation. Rising above the skin level, the papilloma is located on a wide base or thin leg. Size ranges from three millimeters to one and a half - two centimeters. A tumor injury is accompanied by a pronounced inflammatory reaction. Frequent trauma to papillomas can lead to malignant degeneration, resulting in the development of squamous cell carcinoma.
Among all skin cancer pathologies, the first place in the frequency of occurrence belongs to basal cell carcinoma, the second to squamous cell carcinoma.
Squamous cell carcinoma initially develops in the cells of the epidermal layer (the prickly layer).
Modern medical studies have established a reliable connection between the development of malignant neoplasms of the skin and the human papillomavirus. As a result, scientists have suggested that the development of the tumor is caused by the complex action of physical, chemical factors and the characteristics of the human immune regulation (genetically controlled).
In addition to chronic injury to papillomas, squamous cell carcinoma develops as a result of keratosis of the skin (senile or sun), pigment xeroderma, dermatitis (caused by radiation) and chronic inflammation of the skin. Burns and injuries of the skin provoke the development of cancer.
Pathogenetically squamous skin cancer is represented by the infiltrating growth of cells of the prickly layer of the skin. Due to the malignant (uncontrolled) reproduction of cells, their atypia and disordered location in the tissue are characteristic. There are two types of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin: keratinized and non-keratinized. The first is characterized by the preservation of the ability of keratinization in atypical cells, which is manifested by horny "pearls" in the thickness of the skin. The second type of cancer is more malignant, atypical cells completely lose their ability to keratinization.
The characteristic localization of squamous cell carcinoma is the red border of the lips (usually the lower), the external genitalia, and the perianal region.
Squamous cell carcinoma, unlike papilloma, is characterized by rapid growth, and is also accompanied by inflammation of the surrounding tissues.
Squamous cell carcinoma can be represented by several morphological forms: ulcerative, nodular and plaque-like.
The ulcerated form is characterized by sagging edges, the presence of bloody exudate in the crater of a ulcerative defect. The cancerous node resembles cauliflower or mushroom on a broad base. The surface of the node is coarse, the color of the tumor can vary from brown to bright red.
A plaque-like tumor is usually bleeding, small-tuberous, and rapidly growing.
With the metastasis of this form of cancer, regional lymph nodes increase in size, become dense, but remain painless and retain mobility. In the later stages, they are soldered to the skin and destroyed, with the formation of ulcerations on the surface.
For diagnostic purposes, histological and cytological examination of scraping from the surface of a pathological formation is used.
As a treatment for small tumors, use: curettage, cryodestruction and electrocoagulation. In the case of larger formations, a surgical operation is performed , during which all affected areas of the skin are excised.