What type of tumor is squamous cell carcinoma?

Squamous cell carcinoma is classified as a malignant tumor that originates from squamous epithelial cells, which are flat cells found in various tissues including the skin, lungs, and the lining of certain organs. The term "malignant" indicates that the tumor has the potential to invade surrounding tissues and metastasize to other parts of the body, distinguishing it from benign tumors, which do not spread or invade other tissues.

Squamous cells undergo changes that lead to uncontrolled growth, resulting in the formation of cancerous tissues. These tumors can arise in various locations, most commonly in the skin (cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma) and in the lungs (lung squamous cell carcinoma), among other areas.

Other options represent different types of tumors. Mesenchymal tumors arise from connective tissues, benign tumors are non-cancerous growths of epithelial tissue, and neuroendocrine tumors originate from neuroendocrine cells, which are quite different in behavior and characteristics than squamous cells. Therefore, understanding the specific characteristics of squamous cell carcinoma as a malignant tumor of squamous epithelial cells is crucial for recognizing its clinical implications and treatment approaches.