Korean J Dermatol.
1993 Oct;31(5):746-750.
A histopathologic study of acantholysis of the squamous cell carcinoma
Abstract
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BACKGROUND: Squamous cell caircinoma(SCC) often shows acantholysis as a result of degenerative changes of neoplastic cells. Regurding the acantholytic changes of SCC most textbooks and literature describe the acantholysis-associated tubular or alveolar structures, which are diagnostic features of adenoid SCC. But the acantholytic changes of SCC are not always assaciated with tubular or alveolar structres. The general and detailed histologic features of acantholysis of SCC have not been reported.
OBJECTIVE
We analyzed the histologic features of acantholysis of SCC . MEHTODS: Twenty six biopsy specimens from 26 patients with SCC were studied for the distributions and sites of acantholysis such as lefts and tubular or alveolar structurs on routine histologic staining.
RESULTS
All 26 biopsy specimens showed acantholysis in their tumors ocal acantholysis was found in 12 cases, and diffuse, widesprcad acantholysis was found in 14 cascs. 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. Tuthular or alveolar structures were found in 5 cases. Clefts were found in 12 cases, one in the subcomealarea, the other 11 were within tumor mases, and one of them showed Darier-like feature with papillary projections of neoplastic cells into thc lumens.
CONCLUSION
The acantholytic hanges of the SCC are more comrr on y found than expected. The acantholytic changes involve not only dyskeratotic cells but also non-dysL eratotic cells and often show glandular structures and clefts.
