Organ Transplants

Organ transplant recipients (OTRs) are at an increased risk of developing squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), a type of skin cancer. A recent study published in JAMA Dermatology compared SCCs in OTRs to SCCs in the general population. The study found that perineural invasion and invasion to or beyond subcutaneous fat were more than twice as common in OTRs as in the general population. Poorly vs well-differentiated SCCs were 3-fold more common in OTRs, and prevalence of SCCs greater than 20 mm vs 20 mm or smaller was moderately higher, with all differences significant. These findings suggest that SCCs in OTRs are more likely to be aggressive and have a worse prognosis than SCCs in the general population. This is likely due to the fact that OTRs are immunosuppressed, which makes them more susceptible to cancer development and progression. Early diagnosis and definitive management of SCCs in OTRs is essential to improving patient outcomes.