title: Correlation between histological findings on punch biopsy specimens and subsequent excision specimens in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: Diagnosis and subsequent treatment of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma are frequently based on punch biopsies. Regarding the current TNM classification and stage grouping for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, it is important to identify the high-risk features (infiltration depth > 4 mm, perineural and/or lymphovascular invasion and poor differentiation). This study investigates the agreement of histological high-risk features and TNM grouping stage on 3 mm punch biopsies and subsequent surgical excision in 105 patients diagnosed with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. On punch biopsy, infiltration depth > 4 mm is not identified in 83.3% (30/36), perineural invasion in 90.9% (10/11) and poor differentiation in 85.7% (6/7) of cases. The TNM stage was underestimated on punch biopsy in 15.4% (16/104). This study shows that on a 3 mm punch biopsy, high-risk features in cSCC can remain undetected and that the actual TNM stage is not identified in 1 out of 6 tumours.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands. annetattema@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Annet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Westers-Attema
authors.forename: Valerie M H J
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Joosten
authors.forename: Marieke H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Roozeboom
authors.forename: Patty J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Nelemans
authors.forename: Bjorn G P M
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Lohman
authors.forename: Anita A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Botterweck
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Steijlen
authors.forename: Arienne M W
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: van Marion
authors.forename: Nicole W J
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Kelleners-Smeets
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D015588:Observer Variation; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery