High recurrence rates of squamous cell carcinoma after Mohs' surgery in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
BACKGROUND
Cutaneous cancers exhibit a much higher incidence in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia than in nonleukemic patients. Squamous and basal cell carcinomas also exhibit greater subclinical tumor extension in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to estimate and compare the recurrence rates of squamous cell carcinoma after Mohs' surgery in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia compared with those in controls and to evaluate differences among squamous cell carcinoma size and histologic grade.


METHODS
We retrospectively assessed the clinical histories, postoperative notes, and surgical photographs of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and controls matched (2:1) for age, sex, and surgical year. Both patients and controls underwent Mohs' surgery for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck at the Mayo Clinic between March 1988 and April 1999.


RESULTS
Twenty-eight patients who underwent Mohs' surgery for 57 squamous cell carcinomas had 7 recurrences. The cumulative incidence of recurrence on a per-tumor basis was 4.3% at 1 year, 14.8% at 3 years, and 19.0% at 5 years. Squamous cell carcinoma was seven times more likely to recur in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia than in controls (p = .003). The distribution of tumor histologic grade was not significantly different between patients and controls (p = .39). Maximum preoperative tumor diameters were clinically similar between patients and controls (median 15 mm vs 14 mm; p = .04).


CONCLUSIONS
The recurrence rates of squamous cell carcinoma were significantly higher in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Squamous cell carcinomas in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia did not exhibit a significant difference in histologic grade or clinical difference in preoperative tumor size. Close surveillance for squamous cell carcinoma recurrence is warranted in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Mehrany
Khosrow
K
Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
Weenig
Roger H
RH
Pittelkow
Mark R
MR
Roenigk
Randall K
RK
Otley
Clark C
CC
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015580:Mohs Surgery; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery