Final answer:
Lung squamous cell carcinoma typically originates near the bronchus and is mainly associated with tobacco smoking. It can cause symptoms like hypercalcemia and Pancoast's syndrome and, unlike squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, it can metastasize.
Step-by-step explanation:
Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Lung squamous cell carcinoma typically arises in the central part of the lungs near the bronchus and is closely associated with tobacco smoking as the primary risk factor. When these squamous cells, which are keratinocytes in the epithelial layer, become cancerous, they can lead to this type of lung cancer. It is a common type of non-small cell lung cancer and, unlike squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, it can metastasize and spread elsewhere in the body. Patients diagnosed with lung squamous cell carcinoma may present with various clinical symptoms, including hypercalcemia, which is an abnormally high calcium level in the blood; Pancoast's syndrome, a collection of symptoms arising from a tumor at the top end of the lung; and hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy, which involves the swelling of the joints and clubbing of the fingers.
Though squamous cell carcinoma is also a common type of skin cancer that affects the squamous cells in the epidermis, when it comes to lung squamous cell carcinoma, it is important to acknowledge the distinct location and risk factors associated with it, mainly its association with cigarette smoke and the potential respiratory-related complications that accompany the diagnosis.