Aggressive oral carcinoma cuniculatum: A rare entity

Area of Science:

• Oral Pathology
• Oncology
• Dermatopathology

Background:

• Oral carcinoma cuniculatum (OCC) is a rare variant of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), characterized by burrow-like crypts filled with keratin.
• While common on the foot's plantar region, OCC is exceptionally rare in the oral cavity, with fewer than 50 reported cases globally.

Observation:

• This report details an aggressive case of OCC affecting the maxillary gingiva.
• The observed tumor exhibited features of tumor cell cannibalism, a phenomenon where one cancer cell engulfs another.

Findings:

• Immunohistochemical analysis revealed diverse expression patterns for E-cadherin, Ki-67, and p53 in the OCC cells.
• The presence of cellular cannibalism in this oral lesion provides further insight into its aggressive nature.

Implications:

• Understanding the immunohistochemical profile of aggressive OCC with cellular cannibalism can aid in diagnosis and prognosis.
• This case contributes to the limited literature on oral carcinoma cuniculatum, emphasizing its rarity and distinct clinicopathological features.