Metastases From Squamous Cell Carcinomas of the Skin

In a series of nearly 7,000 patients with squamous cell epitheliomas, 2% manifested evidence of metastases at the time of diagnosis. The regional lymph nodes were the most common sites of this extension but far distant viscera were involved in 5% to 10% of the cases. Metastases may occur early in such cases: 2.5% had been noted for less than one month, 37.8% for less than six months, and 68.1% for less than one year. This indicates that such spread does not occur only in long neglected or inadequately treated instances.