Recent Changes in the Incidence and Characteristics of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinomas in Finland from 2006 to 2020: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Registers recording only 1 tumour per patient do not enable assessment of the real burden of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. To investigate recent changes in the incidence and characteristics of tumours, a retrospective 15-year patient cohort study was performed in Finland. Histopathological diagnoses of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas diagnosed between 2016 and 2020 were obtained from the pathology database and clinical data from patient medical records and combined with previously collected data for the years 2006-2015. Altogether 1,472 patients with 2,056 tumours were identified. The crude incidence increased from 19/100,000 persons in 2006 to 42 in 2020 (p < 0.001), increasing most in people aged over 80 years. The percentage of tumours located on the trunk increased from 5.3% during the first 5-year period, 2006-2010, to 9.0% in 2016-2020. Also, the location of tumours was significantly different between men and women, as men had more tumours on the scalp and ears, and women on the lower limbs. A slight change in the tumours from poorly to well differentiated and a decrease in the invasion depth were noted between 2006 and 2020. As the burden of tumours continues to increase, more attention should be paid to their prevention.

Recurrent and Metastatic Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinomas in a Cohort of 774 Patients in Finland.

Recognising patients with high risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas is essential in planning effective monitoring. The aim of this study was to determine the rate of local recurrences and metastases of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas in a previously defined patient cohort in Finland. Pathology database search was performed to identify cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma patients and their medical records were reviewed. The cohort consisted of 774 patients with 1,131 cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma tumours. Overall, 4.2% (48/1,131) of the tumours were metastatic and 2.2% (25/1,131) had a local recurrence. Three of the metastatic tumours and 8 of the recurrent tumours had an invasion depth of ≤ 2 mm. The majority of metastases (28/48; 58%) were found within 3 months of the diagnosis of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. In conclusion, our study demonstrated recurrences and metastases even in the case of thin cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas and in high-risk cases close monitoring should be organised during the first years after diagnosis.

Characteristics and Trends of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma in a Patient Cohort in Finland 2006-2015.

The incidence of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is increasing worldwide. In most epidemiological studies, only the first case of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is registered, underestimating the burden of the disease. To determine the frequency and detailed characteristics of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in a Finnish patient cohort, we performed a retrospective 10-year study taking into account multiple tumours in one patient. On the pathology database search and medical record review we identified 774 patients with a total of 1,131 cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas. The crude incidence increased from 18.6/100,000 persons in 2006 to 28.1 in 2015. The location of tumours differed between men and women: the greatest difference concerned cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the ear, with 93% of cases occurring in men. One fourth (24%) of patients had more than one tumour. A small shift from poorly to well-differentiated tumours was seen. In conclusion, the incidence of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma increased, with many patients presenting with multiple tumours.

[Diagnosis and treatment of actinic keratosis]. / Aktiinisen keratoosin diagnostiikka ja hoito.

Actinic keratoses are premalignant skin lesions with the risk of converting into squamous cell carcinoma, and therefore they should be treated. Treatment modalities include cryotherapy, photodynamic therapy, carbon dioxide laser and also topical treatments such as imiquimode, ingenol mebutate, 5-fluorouracil and diclophenac. In the future, the treatment of actinic keratosis can be more often done in primary health care. The most favorable treatment modality depends on patient age, general health, and the thickness, size and localization of the lesion.

[Basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and premalignant skin lesions--how to treat?]. / Basalioomat, okasolusyöpä ja sen esiasteet, miten hoidan?

Increasing exposure to UV radiation is considered the most important etiologic factor of nonmelanoma skin cancers. Consequently, exposed areas such as the scalp and face, are the primary areas for developing non-melanoma skin cancers. Once a patient has presented with one tumor, additional lesions are common. The diagnosis is based on typical clinical picture and biopsy or excision for histopathological analysis. Various non-surgical treatment options have been established. Superficial basal cell carcinoma, superficial carcinoma in situ and all actinic keratoses are preferentially treated non-surgically. Most other basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas should be surgically removed.

[Applications of botulin]. / Silmä, nenä, suu, kurkku, kaula, kaikki muu --botuliinin käyttömahdollisuuksia.

Among the ailments of the ocular region, the use of botulin has become established in the treatment of blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm in Finland. Botulin has also been used successfully after peripheral facial palsy to improve facial symmetry, reduce lachrymal flow, treat dribbling of saliva as well as spasmodic dysphonia of laryngeal muscles. It may be effective in dysphagia caused by tightness of the upper esophageal sphincter or in several dyshidroses. Gastroenterologic indications include anal fissure and spasm and achalasia of the lower esophageal sphincter. In urology, botulin is effective in overactive bladder and incomplete voiding.

Premalignant lesions, basal cell carcinoma and melanoma in patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

The incidence of keratinocyte carcinomas is increasing worldwide and currently there is no standardised strategy for the follow-up of patients with multiple tumours. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of premalignant lesions, i.e., actinic keratosis and Bowen's disease, as well as basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and cutaneous melanoma (CM) among patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). Pathology database search was performed to identify all cSCC patients diagnosed in the Pirkanmaa region of Finland in 2006-2015. Details of the patients and tumours were obtained through medical record review. The cohort consisted of 774 patients with 1131 cSCC tumours. Overall 559 patients (72%) had premalignant lesions. A total of 316 patients (41%) had BCC and 52% of these (n = 164) had more than one BCC tumour. 50 patients (6%) had CM. Overall 180 cSCC patients (23%) had no premalignant changes, BCC or CM. The median age of these patients was 6 years less than that of the patients with premalignant lesions (p < 0.001) or BCC (p < 0.001). The invasion depth of the tumours was deeper in the patients with only cSCC (median 3 mm, interquartile range 2-6) than in those with premalignant lesions or BCC (median 2 mm, interquartile range 1-3), p < 0.001. CSCC patients have a high risk of developing multiple skin cancers and need long-term follow-up.

Sentinel node tumor burden in prediction of prognosis in melanoma patients.

Recent data have demonstrated no survival benefit to immediate completion lymph node dissection (CLND) for positive sentinel node (SN) disease in melanoma. It is important to identify parameters in positive SNs, which predict prognosis in melanoma patients. These might provide prognostic value in staging systems and risk models by guiding high-risk patients' adjuvant therapy in clinical practice. In this retrospective study of university hospital melanoma database we analyzed tumor burden and prognosis in patients with positive SNs. Patients were stratified by the diameter of tumor deposit, distribution of metastatic focus in SN, ulceration and number of metastatic SNs. These were incorporated in Cox proportional hazard regression models. Predictive ability was assessed using Akaike information criterion and Harrell's concordance index. A total of 110 patients had positive SN and 104 underwent CLND. Twenty-two (21%) patients had non-SN metastatic disease on CLND. The 5-year melanoma specific survival for CLND-negative patients was 5.00 years (IQR 3.23-5.00, range 0.72-5.00) compared to 3.69 (IQR 2.28-4.72, range 1.01-5.00) years in CLND-positive patients (HR 2.82 (95% CI 1.17-6.76, p = 0.020).The models incorporating distribution of metastatic focus and the largest tumor deposit in SN had highest predictive ability. According to Cox proportional hazard regression models, information criterions and c-index, the diameter of tumor deposit > 4 mm with multifocal location in SN despite of number of metastatic SN were the most important parameters. According to the diameter of tumor deposit and distribution of metastatic focus in SN, adequate stratification of positive SN patients was possible and risk classes for patients were identified.

A second expert pathology review of cutaneous melanoma in multidisciplinary meetings: Impact on treatment decisions.

Melanoma causes substantial burden of medical costs and years of life lost. Wide variations in melanoma diagnosis and treatment have been identified at least in the United States, Australia, Germany, Italy and France [1]. The variation especially in the quality of reporting on pathological specimens has been reported. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the impact of expert pathology review of melanoma on the staging and thus treatment decisions in cutaneous melanoma patients in a multidisciplinary tumor board. A total of 567 patients were referred to the multidisciplinary meeting with a diagnosis of new invasive or in situ melanoma from 14.10.2014 to 31.5.2018. Among these patients, a second expert histopathologic review resulted in changes in interpretation for 46 out of 567 (8%) patients. Of patients originally diagnosed with melanoma, pathologic review led to a change in diagnosis to benign lesions in 19 cases. The Breslow thickness changed >0.3 mm in 22 cases leading changes in staging and thus treatment. Minor changes (≤0.3 mm) in Breslow thickness was found in 5 cases. Our data suggest that review of melanoma by an expert dermatopathologist results in frequent, clinically meaningful alterations in diagnosis, staging and surgical treatment. The confirmation of a cancer diagnosis should be the first step in the initiation of multidisciplinary monitoring especially in patients younger than 40 years old and early-stage tumors.