Demystifying cutaneous cystic squamous cell carcinoma: a case report and review of the literature

Cystic squamous cell carcinoma (cySCC) is a variant of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma that manifests clinically as a cystic lesion instead of a solid tumor. Owing to their benign appearance, accurate diagnosis and treatment are often delayed. We report a case of a 55-year-old male presenting with a scalp lesion. The patient was keen for removal of the lesion as it was bothersome, although there were no overt sinister features on history nor examination. An excision biopsy was performed and histopathological examination revealed a cySCC. A wider excision was subsequently performed and the patient made an uneventful recovery. The number of cases of cySCC reported in the literature has been increasing. Clinical suspicion for malignancy must be high for any evolving lesion. The diagnosis of cySCC may only be apparent on histopathological examination. Prompt wider excision and further imaging studies are essential upon confirmation of cySCC.