Research Information System
Turkish Journal of Plastic Surgery, vol.34, no.1, pp.15-20, 2026 (ESCI, Scopus)
Background: Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is one of the most common skin cancers, with increasing incidence worldwide. While most cases are effectively treated with surgical excision, certain factors contribute to recurrence, impacting patient prognosis and survival. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate recurrence rates in SCC patients, identify associated risk factors, and assess the impact of recurrence on survival. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 347 patients who underwent SCC excision between 2012 and 2018 at a tertiary university hospital. Clinical, histopathological, and treatment-related data were collected, including tumor size, depth of invasion, histopathological margins, need for re-excision, lymph node dissection (LND), adjuvant therapy, and TNM staging. Recurrence rates and survival outcomes were analyzed using statistical methods. Results: Recurrence was observed in 9.2% (n = 32) of patients. Key risk factors for recurrence included younger age, deep tissue invasion, close histopathological margins, the need for LND, and distant metastasis. Patients requiring chemotherapy or radiotherapy had significantly higher recurrence rates. Recurrence was associated with a 4.7-fold increase in mortality risk. Conclusion: Recurrence in SCC patients is influenced by multiple clinical and pathological factors, with close-margin excision, deep tissue invasion, and distant metastases being the strongest predictors. In addition, patients with recurrence had significantly reduced survival rates. These findings emphasize the importance of wide-margin excision, careful histopathological evaluation, and early identification of high-risk patients to improve outcomes and reduce recurrence rates.