Best clinical practice guidelines on management of squamous cell carcinoma in epidermolysis bullosa

Jemima Mellerio
St John’s Institute of Dermatology, London, UK

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a devastating complication of some types of epidermolysis bullosa (EB), notably severe generalised recessive dystrophic EB where it is the leading cause of death in young adulthood. The EB SCC best practice guidelines provide evidence-based and expert consensus guidance on different aspects including surveillance, diagnosis, surgical and non-surgical management as well as end-of-life care. It provides recommendations on monitoring for SCC every 3-6 months from the age of 10 years and biopsy of suspicious areas of skin. For biopsy-confirmed SCCs, there are recommendations regarding the types of imaging that may be required and assessment for local or distant metastatic spread. Although the gold-standard treatment is surgical, other modalities may be needed especially for inoperable or advanced disease e.g. radiotherapy, biologic therapies and electrochemotherapy.