Patterns of major cutaneous surgeries and reconstructions in patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in the USA.

Abstract

Aim: Since use of major cutaneous surgeries/reconstructions among patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) is not well described, we sought to quantify major cutaneous surgeries/reconstructions among patients with CSCC who were newly diagnosed and for those treated with systemic therapy, stratified by immune status. Methods: We used the Optum^® Clinformatics^® Data Mart database (2013-2020) and Kaplan-Meier estimators to assess risk of surgeries/reconstructions. Results: 450,803 patients were identified with an incident CSCC diagnosis, including 4111 patients with CSCC who initiated systemic therapy. The respective 7-year risks of major cutaneous surgeries/reconstructions were 10.9% (95% CI: 10.7-11.0) and 21.8% (95% CI: 17.6-25.8). Overall risk of major cutaneous surgeries/reconstructions was higher in patients who were immunocompromised than those who were immunocompetent. Conclusion: Approximately one in nine patients with CSCC will undergo ≥1 major cutaneous surgeries/reconstructions within 7 years of diagnosis; the risk increases in patients who initiate systemic therapy and among those who are immunocompromised.