Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Skin: Diagnostic Tests

Optional medical device diagnostics – depending on the results of the history, physical examination, laboratory diagnostics, and obligatory medical device diagnostics – for differential diagnostic clarification.

  • Dermatoscopy (reflected light microscopy; increases diagnostic confidence).
  • Fluorescence diagnostics (FD; synonym: photodynamic diagnostics, PDD); for in vivo diagnosis of non-melanocytic tumors such as basal cell carcinomas or squamous cell carcinomas (PEK) of the skin, as well as precancerous lesions (precancerous lesions) such as actinic keratosis and Bowen’s disease
  • Sonography (ultrasound examination)
    • Of the tumor – depending on the localization to determine the depth/spread.
    • Of the regional lymph node stations – if locoregional metastases are suspected or if risk factors are present: e.g., from a tumor thickness ≥ 2 mm, immunosuppression.
  • Optical coherence tomography (OCT): the procedure is based on is based on coherent light interferometry; the skin is irradiated with broadband light; the light reflected from the tissue allows the calculation and display of two-dimensional depth section images on a monitor; penetration depth is greater than confocal laser scanning microscopy (KLSM), but at the expense of lower resolution (penetration depth: into subcutaneous tissue (1-2 mm), but with lower resolution: 10-20 μm). Indications: non-melanocytic skin tumors, especially basal cell carcinomas, actinic keratoses, Bowen’s carcinomas, and spinocellular carcinomas (squamous cell carcinomas of the skin).
  • Abdominal ultrasonography (ultrasound of abdominal organs) – when locoregional or distant metastasis (settlement of tumor cells from the site of origin via the blood/lymphatic system to a distant site in the body and growth of new tumor tissue there) of a PEK is suspected or detected.
  • Computed tomography (CT; sectional imaging procedure (X-ray images from different directions with computer-based evaluation)) – if metastasis (formation of daughter tumors) is suspected.