Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Exam Prep 2026 – Complete Practice Resource

The most common initial treatment for squamous cell carcinoma typically involves biopsy and surgical excision. This approach serves multiple purposes: it confirms the diagnosis through histological examination, determines the characteristics of the tumor, and allows for the removal of cancerous tissue to prevent further spread.

In many cases, squamous cell carcinoma, especially when detected early, can be excised completely, which often leads to a good prognosis. Surgical excision aims to ensure clear margins around the tumor to reduce the risk of recurrence.

While radiation therapy can be an effective treatment in certain scenarios, it is more commonly used for cases where surgery is not an option or for palliative care. Topical chemotherapy is mainly used for superficial or non-invasive lesions rather than more advanced carcinoma. Observation may be considered in cases of very low-risk lesions, but it is not the standard initial approach for squamous cell carcinoma, where intervention is typically required to manage the disease effectively.