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Squamous cell carcinoma associated with increased mortality

Squamous cell carcinoma was associated with a 25% increase in all-cause mortality compared with patients in the general population.

Investigators of this study searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases for information on mortality associated with both squamous cell and basal cell carcinoma. Case reports and series were excluded, as were subpopulation studies.

Of the 6,538 papers found, with 156 evaluated in full text, 12 studies were included in the final analysis. Ultimately, the meta-analysis included 464,230 patients with basal cell carcinoma and 175,849 patients with squamous cell carcinoma. The patients were culled from four studies.

The summary relative mortality rate associated with basal cell carcinoma was 0.92 (95% CI, 0.83-1.02) compared with the general population. This rate was 1.25 (95% CI, 1.17-16 1.32) for squamous cell carcinoma.

The researchers noted that despite heterogeneity in the meta-analysis, all studies involving squamous cell carcinoma were qualitatively concordant, showing a statistically significant elevation in mortality risk.

“We found that patients with SCC are at higher risk of death from any cause compared to the general population,” the researchers concluded. – by Rob Volansky

Disclosures: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.