Patient-Related Delay in Presentation for Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma. A Cross-Sectional Clinical Study

Background: Delayed diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) increases recurrence, metastatic potential, and management costs. This study aims to identify risk factors of patient-related delayed presentation in cutaneous SCC. Patients and Methods: A total of 513 patients, who first sought care for cutaneous lesions that were subsequently removed and histologically confirmed as SCCs, were included. Attitude to symptoms, psychosocial profile, and reasons for delayed presentation were obtained via a structured questionnaire-based interview. First presentation > 3 months from the onset of symptoms was considered as delayed. Results: Mean presentation time was 3.90 ± 2.05 months, while 186 patients delayed presentation. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that serious co-morbidity (p = 0.003), low education level (p Conclusion: Recognition of symptom seriousness and elimination of factors hindering self-referral may increase awareness and promote early patient presentation and diagnosis of cutaneous SCC.