Higher metastasis and death rates in cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas with lymphovascular invasion.

ABSTRACT Background Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) is an aggressive histologic finding but is excluded from current staging systems due to lack of demonstrated independent prognostic significance. Objective To evaluate the impact of LVI on CSCC tumor outcomes. Methods 10,707 CSCC tumors from a 20-year retrospective multicenter cohort were stratified by presence (LVI+) or absence (LVI-) of LVI. Outcomes (local recurrence, in transit metastasis, nodal metastasis, disease specific death) were compared based on low (Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) stage T1/T2a) and high (BWH T2b/T3)-tumor stage. Results Of the 10,707 tumors, 78 tumors had LVI. Analysis of low-stage BWH tumors showed the LVI+ group had a significantly higher 5-year cumulative incidence of LR (LVI+: 12.3% vs. LVI-: 1.1%, p Limitations Retrospective study design. Conclusion LVI+ CSCCs have a higher rate of metastasis and death at 5-years. Future staging systems should consider incorporating LVI.