Age over 90 years is an unfavorable prognostic factor for resectable cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

The rapid aging of the population has led to an increase in the number of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) cases among the older population. However, the characteristics of these cases remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to identify the problem by analyzing the clinical characteristics of patients with cSCC aged 90 years and over. In this retrospective study, we analyzed the characteristics of patients aged >90 years with regard to gender, risk factors for cSCC, and disease course, using data from 316 patients with cSCC who underwent surgery at the Kagoshima Medical Centre between October 2014 and September 2022. Patients were separated into two groups based on age: those aged ≥90 years (104 patients) and those aged <90 years (212 patients). Regarding the National Comprehensive Cancer Network risk classification, there was no difference between groups. Univariate, multivariate, and Cox analyses of relapse-free survival of patients in both groups indicated that the recurrence risk was significantly high among those aged ≥90 years. Patients aged ≥90 years were at higher risk for recurrence, suggesting a need for closer follow-up than that for patients aged <90 years.