squamous cell carcinoma

(noun)

a cancer of squamous cell epithelial tissue.

Related Terms

Examples of squamous cell carcinoma in the following topics:

  • Skin Cancer

    • The three main types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma (the most common of all cancers), squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.
    • Each type is named after the skin cell from which it arises.
    • Basal cell carcinoma usually presents as a raised, smooth, pearly bump on the sun-exposed skin of the head, neck, or shoulders.
    • Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is commonly a red, scaling, thickened patch on sun-exposed skin.
    • The mortality rate of basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma is around 0.3%, causing two thousand deaths per year in the U.S.

  • Sun Damage, Sunscreen, and Sunblock

    • The use of sunscreen is known to prevent the direct DNA damage that causes sunburn and the two most common forms of skin cancer, basal-cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

  • Cervical Cancer

    • Cervical cancer is the term for a malignant neoplasm arising from cells originating in the cervix uteri.
    • Most cervical cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, arising in the squamous (flattened) epithelial cells that line the cervix.
    • Adenocarcinoma, arising in glandular epithelial cells is the second most common type.
    • Very rarely, cancer can arise in other types of cells in the cervix.
    • This large squamous carcinoma (bottom of picture) has obliterated the cervix and invaded the lower uterine segment.

  • Lung Cancer

    • The main types of lung cancer are small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC), also called oat cell cancer, and non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC).
    • There are three main sub-types: squamous cell lung carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and large cell lung carcinoma.
    • Accounting for 25% of lung cancers, squamous cell lung carcinoma usually starts near a central bronchus.
    • Well-differentiated squamous cell lung cancers often grow more slowly than other cancer types.
    • Damage to chromosomes 3p, 5q, 13q, and 17p are particularly common in small-cell lung carcinoma.

  • Tonsils

    • For example, the adenoids and tubal tonsils are covered with the ciliated psuedostratified columnar epithelium of the nasopharynx, while the palatine and lingual tonsils are made up of the non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium of the oropharynx.
    • They contain specialized M cells that collect antigens produced by respiratory tract pathogens.
    • Captured antigens are presented to B and T cells within the tonsil, then the B cells migrate to germinal centers within the tonsil as an adaptive immune response is initiated.
    • Squamous cell carcinomas (epithelial tumor) and lymphomas (lymphocyte tumor) can also develop in the tonsillar tissue, and removal is a key treatment.
    • Epidemiological studies show no significant change in immune system function in those that have a tonsillectomy, but minor increases in helper T cell levels and minor decreases in IgA levels (an antibody produced by B cells) were observed.

  • Laryngitis and Cancer of the Larynx

    • Laryngeal cancer may also be called cancer of the larynx or laryngeal carcinoma.
    • Most laryngeal cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, reflecting their origin from the squamous cells which form the majority of the laryngeal epithelium.

  • Metastasis Through Lymphatic Vessels

    • This is the most common route of metastasis for carcinomas.
    • This is the most common route of metastasis for carcinomas.
    • Haematogenous spread: This is typical route of metastasis for sarcomas, but it is also the favored route for certain types of carcinoma, (e.g., renal cell carcinoma).
    • Micrograph showing a lymph node invaded by ductal breast carcinoma and with extranodal extension of tumour.
    • Surrounding the lymphocytes and extending into the surrounding fat (top of image) is ductal breast carcinoma.

  • Types of Epithelial Tissue

    • Epithelial tissue is classified by cell shape and the number of cell layers.
    • For example, simple squamous epithelial tissue describes a single layer of cells that are flat and scale-like in shape.
    • Simple squamous epithelium cells are flat in shape and arranged in a single layer.
    • Stratified epithelia can be columnar, cuboidal, or squamous type.
    • Squamous epithelium has cells that are wider than they are tall.

  • Venules

    • Venule walls have three layers: an inner endothelium composed of squamous endothelial cells that act as a membrane, a middle layer of muscle and elastic tissue, and an outer layer of fibrous connective tissue.
    • Venules are extremely porous so that fluid and blood cells can move easily from the bloodstream through their walls.
    • They are characterized by plump endothelial cells as opposed to the usual thinner endothelial cells found in regular venules.
    • HEVs enable lymphocytes (white blood cells) circulating in the blood to directly enter a lymph node by crossing through the HEV.

  • Glomerular Filtration

    • The Bowman's capsule (also called the glomerular capsule) surrounds the glomerulus and is composed of visceral (simple squamous epithelial cells) (inner) and parietal (simple squamous epithelial cells) (outer) layers.
    • The size of the filtration slits restricts the passage of large molecules (eg, albumin) and cells (eg, red blood cells and platelets), which are the non-filterable component of blood, which then leave the glomerulus through the efferent arteriole, which becomes capillaries meant for kidney oxygen exchange and reabsorption before becoming venous circulation.