Infrequent Histopathologic Subtypes of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Case Series with Emphasis on Histopathologic Characteristics

Atarbashi Moghadam, Saede; Lotfi, Ali; Roghanizadeh, Leyla; Mirebeigi Jamasbi, Seyed Sepehr; Akbarzadeh Fathabadi, Zeinab

doi:10.30476/dentjods.2025.103223.2435

Infrequent Histopathologic Subtypes of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Case Series with Emphasis on Histopathologic Characteristics

Document Type : Case Series

Authors

Saede Atarbashi Moghadam ¹

Ali Lotfi ¹

Leyla Roghanizadeh ²

Seyed Sepehr Mirebeigi Jamasbi ³

Zeinab Akbarzadeh Fathabadi ³

¹ Dept. of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, School of Dentistry, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

² Researcher, Iranian Center for Endodontic Research, Research Institute for Dental Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

³ Dental Student, Student Research Center, School of Dentistry, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.30476/dentjods.2025.103223.2435

Abstract

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common oral malignancy. Conventional types are classified as well-, moderately- and poorly differentiated, which are usually easy to diagnose microscopically. Still, uncommon variants such as basaloid, verrucous, spindle cell, papillary, adenosquamous, acantholytic, cuniculatum, clear cell, and pigmented SCC make a diagnostic challenge for pathologists. This report presents four rare cases of oral SCC with histopathologic diagnosis of spindle cell carcinoma, carcinoma cuniculatum, papillary SCC, and basaloid SCC focusing on microscopic characteristics and differential diagnosis. The apprehensive knowledge about the unique histopathologic features of these uncommon variants is crucial to avoid their misdiagnoses and provide appropriate treatment.

Highlights

Saede Atarbashi-Moghadam (Google Scholar)

Keywords

Basaloid Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Carcinoma Cuniculatum

Spindle Cell Carcinoma

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

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