Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2004 Sep;47(9):928-930.

Basaloid Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx: A Case Report

• Mun SK
• Lee KW
• Kim KS
• Yang HS

Abstract

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma is an unusual variant of squamous cell carcinoma that mostly arises in the upper aerodigestive tract. Etiologic factors such as tobacco, alcohol abuse and viral infection seem to be linked to this tumor. This tumor is highly aggressive, and is often presented at advanced stages with lymph node or distant metastasis. It most commonly occurs in the larynx, hypopharynx and the base of the tongue. Histologically, basaloid squamous cell carcinoma is characterized by a basaloid pattern often intimately associated with focal squamous differentiation, comedonecrosis, and stromal hyalinization. This tumor has been confused with adenoid cystic carcinoma and small cell undifferentiated carcinoma because of their histopathologic pattern, but is usually distinguishable in routine hematoxylin and eosin stained sections, or in rare cases, with the aid of immunohistochemical studies. We report a case of basaloid squamous cell carcinoma that occurred in the right palatopharygeal fold of the oropharynx, which is a distinctly unusual location.

Keyword

Squamous cell carcinoma; Oropharynx

MeSH Terms

Alcoholism
Carcinoma
Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell*
Eosine Yellowish-(YS)
Hematoxylin
Hyalin
Hypopharynx
Larynx
Lymph Nodes
Neoplasm Metastasis
Oropharynx*
Tobacco
Tongue
Eosine Yellowish-(YS)
Hematoxylin