ORAL VERRUCOUS CARCINOMA: A CASE SERIES

Abstract

Oral verrucous carcinoma is an uncommon variant of squamous cell carcinoma, characterized by its exophytic outgrowing clinical aspect. In a single-institution 10-year retrospective analysis (2008-2018), 5 cases of verrucous carcinoma were identified, affecting 2 men and 3 women (mean age = 69.2 y, ranging from 62-80 y). All cases presented as an exophytic verrucous growth on the buccal mucosa, with fibrous consistency to palpation. Four lesions exhibited a sessile insertion, whitish color, not removable by scraping; 1 lesion had a pedicled insertion and brownish color. Histologic sections depicted neoplasia of epithelial origin composed of neoplastic cells arranged in broad ridges, elongated toward the surface, covered by abundant parakeratin. Corneal pearls, nuclear pleomorphism and hyperchromatism, and increased mitosis rate were observed. The dense connective tissue revealed chronic inflammatory infiltrate in all cases. All patients underwent surgical resection and remain under follow-up care. Oral verrucous carcinoma is an uncommon variant of squamous cell carcinoma, characterized by its exophytic outgrowing clinical aspect. In a single-institution 10-year retrospective analysis (2008-2018), 5 cases of verrucous carcinoma were identified, affecting 2 men and 3 women (mean age = 69.2 y, ranging from 62-80 y). All cases presented as an exophytic verrucous growth on the buccal mucosa, with fibrous consistency to palpation. Four lesions exhibited a sessile insertion, whitish color, not removable by scraping; 1 lesion had a pedicled insertion and brownish color. Histologic sections depicted neoplasia of epithelial origin composed of neoplastic cells arranged in broad ridges, elongated toward the surface, covered by abundant parakeratin. Corneal pearls, nuclear pleomorphism and hyperchromatism, and increased mitosis rate were observed. The dense connective tissue revealed chronic inflammatory infiltrate in all cases. All patients underwent surgical resection and remain under follow-up care.