<unk>  cell<unk>   is a malignant tumor of epithelium that shows<unk>  cell differentiation. This type of cancer can be visualized if it is on the<unk> , lips, inside the mouth, throat or esophagus. It is characterized by red, scaly<unk>  that turns into an open sore.Reports of non-melanoma cancer date back to biblical times. Percival Pott was the first person to report the malignant nature of<unk>  cell<unk>  in adolescent British chimney sweeps. This was the first described occupational and exposure-related risk factor for<unk>  cell<unk> . Later, other occupational and exposure associations were reported when there were reported incidences of<unk>  cell<unk>  in mule spinners, and it was therefore called mule spinner's disease. French surgeon Jean-Nicholas Marjolin, in 1828, first described this<unk>  arising in traumatic scars, and subsequently any<unk>  cell<unk>  associated with burns was termed Marjolin's ulcer.<unk>  is a slow growing invasive non-melanoma<unk>  tumour, which is caused mainly by prolonged exposure to sunlight and other forms of UV radiation. Patients undergo staging as a routine part of their diagnosis and treatment. Staging of the lesion assists the physician to choose which form of treatment strategy suits the patient.<unk>  cell<unk>  <unk>  is type of non-melanoma<unk>  cancer. The cancer arises as a result of uncontrolled growth of the<unk>  cells in the epidermis of the<unk> .<unk>  cell<unk>  is most commonly caused by long term exposure to sunlight and other forms of UV radiation. Male sex, fair<unk> ned people, smokers, the elderly, and people who have previous history of a<unk>  cancer are particularly prone to the development of this non-melanomatous<unk>  cancer. It accounts for 20% of all non-melanomatous tumors, and is fairly invasive  contrary to its counterpart, basal cell<unk> .<unk>  cell<unk>  typically presents as a non-healing ulcer or growth on a sun exposed area of the<unk> .<unk>  cell<unk>  <unk>  is one of the most common subtypes of<unk>  cancer. Its main risk factors include prolonged exposure to sunlight and/or UV radiation. Most of the affected individuals are elderly. The risk factors for the<unk>  cell<unk>  <unk>  include prolonged sunlight exposure, UV radiation, smoking, drugs etc. Once<unk>  cell<unk>  <unk>  develops on the<unk>  it grows slowly. If neglected and once it reaches the size of 2 cm and more it is three times more likely to spread to other areas than the smaller lesions. Usual size ranges from 1 cm to 5 cm. It is the mechanical interference of this fungiform exophytic lesion that brings it to the notice of the patient or the clinician. When treated early<unk>  cell<unk>  is completely curable by 95% - 98%. This lesion has a cure rate of 95% - 98%. But once the lesion spreads to other regions beyond<unk> , like lymph nodes and internal organs less than half of the patients live five years. A sub set of<unk>  carries the risk of local recurrence, nodal or distant metastasis (usually to the lungs) and eventually death. A biopsy is the gold standard test for the diagnosis of<unk> .  Diagnosis is established by biopsy and histopathological confirmation. Complete excision is curative in the vast majority of cases. Occasionally<unk>  cell<unk>  will invade along the perineural layer of peripheral nerves and will extend well beyond the clinically apparent mass. Local recurrence is more common in these instances and when present on the head, direct intracranial extension may occur. Metastases to draining lymph nodes occurs in a minority of cases and disseminated disease is the cause of most<unk>  cell<unk> -related deaths. Higher rates of metastasis (~15%) are observed with primary lesions of the lips or ears (Rowe et al., 1992). Radiation therapy is helpful in some cases of locally recurrent disease in which complete resection is difficult to achieve and in cases of limited metastatic disease. There are no CT scan findings associated with<unk> . However, a CT scan may be helpful in the detection of disease extent, assessment of metastasis, and perineural invasion of the tumor. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has implications similar to that of a CT scan. It has many advantages compared to a CT scan including increased sensitive than a CT scan in identifying the extent of a lesion and its use in the evaluation of a tumor for its invasion of perineural tissue. Medical therapy for<unk>  cell<unk>  includes chemotherapy with cisplatin, topical fluorouracil, capecitabine, methotrexate, cetuximab, bleomycin and doxorubicin. Other treatment modalities include cryotherapy, radiation therapy and photodynamic therapy. Surgery is the mainstay of therapy for<unk> . Most cases of<unk>  cell<unk>  are the result of exposure to sunlight and other forms of ultraviolet radiation. Primary prevention focuses primarily on protecting our self from these forms of radiation. Secondary prevention aims at taking care of early symptoms and preclude the development of possible irreparable disease conditions.
Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin
Cutaneous lymphoma
Merkel cell cancer
Melanoma
Nevus depigmentosus
Angiokeratoma
Basal cell carcinoma
Lymphangioma circumscriptum