Background:
@EN Squamous cell carcinoma(SCC) often shows acantholysis as a result of degenerative changes fo neoplastic cells. Regarding the acantholytic changes of SCC, most textbooks and literature describe the acantholysis-assciated tubular or alveolar
structures, which are diagnostic features of adenoid SCC. But the acantholytic changes of SCC are not always associted with tubular or alveolar structres. The general and detailed histologic features of acantholysis of SCC have not been reported.
@ES Objective:
@EN We analyzed the histologic features of acantholysis of SCC.
@ES Methods :
@EN Twenty six biopsy specimens from 26 patients with SCC were studied for the distributions and sites of acantholysis such as clefts and tubular or alveolar structures on routine histologic staining.
@ES Results:
@EN All 26 biopsy specimens showed acantholysis in their tumors. Focal acantholysis was found in 12 cases, and diffuse, widespread acantholysis was found in 14 cases. The foci of acantholysis were in the surface epidermis in 9 cases, in the
follicular
wall in 5 cases, and in both the surface epidermis and the follicuar wall in 12 cases. The types of acantholytic cells were either dyskeratotic cells or non-dyskeratotic squamous cells. Tubular or alveolar structures were found in 5 cases. Clefts
were
found in 12 cases. One in the subcorneal area, the other 11 were within tumor masses, and one of them showed Darier-like feature with papillary projections of neoplastic cells into the lumens.
@ES Conclusion:
@EN The acantholytic changes of the SCC are more commonly found than expected. The acantholytic changes involve not only dyskeratotic cells but also non-dyskeratotic cells and often show glandular structures and clefts
|