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A rare cancer getting less rare: Cases of scrotal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) have been climbing at a rate of 5.2% per year since 2000, with non-Hispanic Black men bearing the highest burden. A new study of over 1,000 patients found that while 2-year survival is generally good at 93%, older age, larger tumors, and unmarried status all worsen outcomes. HPV vaccination may help reverse the trend.
A rare cancer getting less rare
Scrotal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) — a historically uncommon malignancy — has been quietly rising in the US, increasing at a rate of 5.2% per year between 2000 and 2023. A new retrospective study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology analyzed over 1,000 patients and found that non-Hispanic Black men face the highest incidence rates, nearly double that of Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islander men.
The overall 2-year disease-specific survival (DSS) sits at a relatively reassuring 93%, but that number drops significantly based on how advanced the cancer is at diagnosis. Older age, larger tumors, and unmarried status were all independently linked to worse survival outcomes.
By the Numbers
Why it matters: The authors note that wider HPV vaccination uptake could help curb future cases, since HPV is a known driver of genital SCCs. For clinicians, early detection remains critical — stage at diagnosis is the strongest predictor of survival.
