Assessing Outcomes of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma with Large-Caliber Nerve Invasion as Solitary High-Risk Factor

Summary: Single institution cohort study examining outcomes of cSCC tumors with large caliber nerve invasion as solitary high risk factor, in comparison to high risk tumors (LCNI + additional high risk factors) and low risk tumors (no LCNI or high risk factors). Adjusted risk of recurrence seen to be about 8%, about half that of high risk tumors. As LCNI tumors are frequently radiated, and radiation has been shown to reduce risk of local recurrence by half, an 8% risk of recurrence may be seen as insufficient to be worth the morbidity of radiation therapy. Should these results hold up in larger studies, it may be worth revising the guidelines on radiation of these tumors.