Dictionary of Cancer Terms
View in Spanish: Carcinoma epidermoide
Epidermoid carcinoma (EH-pih-DUR-moyd KAR-sih-NOH-muh)
Cancer that begins in squamous cells (thin, flat cells that look like fish scales). Squamous cells are found in the tissue that forms the surface of the skin, the lining of the hollow organs of the body, and the lining of the respiratory and digestive tracts. Also called squamous cell carcinoma.
Source: National Cancer Institute Dictionary of Cancer Terms, available at www.cancer.gov/dictionary.