TREATMENT OF SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA OF THE SKIN WITH THE USE OG CRYOGENIC TECHNOLOGIES

Abstract

Background. The incidence of skin cancer has been steadily increasing worldwide. Squamous cell skin carcinoma (SCSC ) is the second most common form of epithelial cancer. Treatment of SCSC remains a challenge, and the 10-year survival rate does not exceed 20 % in patients with regional lymph node  metastases and 10 % in patients with distant metastases.The aim of the study was to evaluate the treatment outcomes in SCSC patients using modern cryogenic technologies.Material and Methods. Between 2013 and 2019, 64 patients with SCSC were treated at N.N. Petrov Research Center for Oncology (St. Petersburg, Russia). All patients were divided into two groups. Group I consisted of 32 patients who underwent cryosurgery. Group II comprised 32 patients who underwent conventional surgery.Results. No significant differences in the treatment outcomes between Group I and Group II patients were found. Cryosurgery has several advantages over other surgical modalities. The duration of surgery was shortened by an average of 54 %. Cryosurgery is less invasive than surgery; therefore, pain and bleeding are minimized. The procedure was well tolerated by all patients. According to the «VAS » scale, the intensity of the pain syndrome in the first day after surgery was 70 % lower in Group I than in Group II . In Group I patients, the length of hospital stay was shortened by 7–9 days (57 %), and postoperative complications were not observed. In Group II , local complications were noted in 3 (9.4 %) patients. Cryosurgery was proven effective in 40.6% of elderly patients with the Charlson Comorbidity Index of more than 7 points, to whom palliative therapy is usually recommended.Conclusion. Cryosurgery for patients with SCSC was safe and did not cause any negative impact on the immediate and long-term treatment outcomes. Cryosurgery is a method of choice in the treatment of patients with a comorbidity.