Squamous cell carcinoma of the hand: fifty-five case reports

Although squamous cell carcinoma is the most frequent primary malignant tumor of the hand, in absolute terms it is rarely encountered. We describe a series of 55 cases of this tumor. Mortality caused by squamous cell carcinoma of the hand is higher compared with figures observed with the same lesion in other sites. The recurrence rate (22%) indicates a need for radical surgical resection and a three-dimensional histologic reconstruction of the lesion's extent. The incidence of metastasis is rather high (28%), and in all cases except one the regional lymph nodes were the first site of metastasis. Despite the presence of a metastatic lesion, lymphadenectomy apparently improves patient survival. Routine prophylactic lymphadenectomy has not yielded encouraging results. Lymphadenectomy is recommended in every patient with a recurrence, even though the nodes may not be palpable.