Risk factors for locoregional recurrence of scar carcinoma.

Abstract

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) arising from scar tissue is rare and has a higher rate of recurrence than SCC arising in sunlight-damaged skin. The risk factors related to locoregional recurrence in scar carcinoma were analysed retrospectively. Ninety-one patients with SCC arising from scar tissue treated from January 1980 to January 1992 were studied. The following factors were evaluated using univariate and multivariate methods for locoregional recurrence: patient age, sex, tumour size, anatomical location, histological differentiation, cause of scar and regional lymph node dissection. With a median follow-up of 30 months locoregional recurrence developed in 27 patients. The median interval to recurrence was 15 months. Sex (P = 0.0278), tumour size (P = 0.0491), and tumour grade (P = 0.0019) were found to be associated with recurrent disease by univariate analysis, but on multivariate analysis only sex and tumour grade were risk factors for recurrence. Careful follow-up after treatment is recommended especially for female patients and those with high-grade tumours.