Spindle Cell Squamous Carcinoma Of The Tongue: An Unusual Histopathology And Comparison Of Immunohistochemical Signatures

Ayushi Jain; Roshna Sankar NS; Shalini Gupta; Veerendra Verma

doi:10.37841/jidam.2026.v13.i1.003

4

Authors

15

References

2026

Year Published

📝Abstract

📥 Received: 01 Nov 2025 ✅ Accepted: 12 Jan 2026 📤 Published: 28 Mar 2026

It is believed that spindle cell squamous carcinoma is an uncommon and extremely aggressive form of oral cavity squamous cell cancer. Even though the immunohistochemical method is crucial to making an accurate diagnosis of this lesion, the results of the cases published in the literature is not always consistent. To minimize misinterpretation, in this review we proposed a panel for this variety of squamous cell carcinoma by reviewing the immunohistochemical expressions of all the reported cases and finding the most consistent results. In addition, we described a case that was reported to our institution and had a unique histology in comparison to typical examples. Also, we proposed an idea that the unusually abundant desmoplastic connective tissue stroma seen in our case may have an impact on the aggressiveness of this tumor.

Keywords: spindle cell squamous cell carcinomaimmunohistochemicalcarcinosarcomapseudo sarcomadesmoplastic stroma

🔖How to Cite

Jain A, NS RS, Gupta S, Verma V. Spindle Cell Squamous Carcinoma Of The Tongue: An Unusual Histopathology And Comparison Of Immunohistochemical Signatures. J Indian Dent Assoc Madras. 2026;13(1). DOI: 10.37841/jidam.2026.v13.i1.003

(Ayushi Jain, Roshna Sankar NS, Shalini Gupta, Veerendra Verma). (2026). Spindle Cell Squamous Carcinoma Of The Tongue: An Unusual Histopathology And Comparison Of Immunohistochemical Signatures. Journal of Indian Dental Association Madras, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.37841/jidam.2026.v13.i1.003

Ayushi Jain, et al. "Spindle Cell Squamous Carcinoma Of The Tongue: An Unusual Histopathology And Comparison Of Immunohistochemical Signatures." Journal of Indian Dental Association Madras, vol. 13, no. 1, 2026. DOI: 10.37841/jidam.2026.v13.i1.003.

Jain A, NS RS, Gupta S, Verma V. Spindle Cell Squamous Carcinoma Of The Tongue: An Unusual Histopathology And Comparison Of Immunohistochemical Signatures. J Indian Dent Assoc Madras. 2026;13(1). doi:10.37841/jidam.2026.v13.i1.003

Ayushi Jain, Roshna Sankar NS, Shalini Gupta, Veerendra Verma. "Spindle Cell Squamous Carcinoma Of The Tongue: An Unusual Histopathology And Comparison Of Immunohistochemical Signatures." Journal of Indian Dental Association Madras 13, no. 1 (2026). https://doi.org/10.37841/jidam.2026.v13.i1.003.

📚References

1
Bo Young Kim. Kyoung Rai Cho. Jung Heob Sohn. Jung Yeon Kim. Sarcomatoid carcinoma after radiotherapy for early-stage oral squamous cell carcinoma Case report. Medicine. 2019; 98:27
2
Anderson CE, Al-Nafussi A. Spindle cell lesions of the head and neck: an overview and diagnostic approach. Diagn Histopathol 2009;15(5):264–72
3
C. Rizzardi, C. Frezzini, M. Maglione, G. Tirelli, and M. Melato, “A look at the biology of spindle cell squamous carcinoma of the oral cavity: report of a case,” Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, vol. 61, no. 2, pp. 264–268, 2003.
4
H.-R. Choi, E. M. Sturgis, D. I. Rosenthal, M. A. Luna, J. G. Batsakis, and A. K. El-Naggar, “Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the head and neck: molecular evidence for evolution and progression from conventional squamous cell carcinomas,” The American Journal of Surgical Pathology, vol. 27, no. 9, pp. 1216– 1220, 2003
5
Parikh N, Desai N (2011) Spindle Cell Carcinoma of the oral cavity: A case report of a rare entity and review of literature. J Academy Adv Dental Research 2: 2
6
Sarma A, Das R, Sharma JD, Kataki AC (2012) A Clinicopathological and Immunohistochemical Study of 40 Cases. Journal of Cancer Therapy 3: 1055-1059
7
Johnson N, Franceschi S, Ferlay J, et al. Squamous cell carcinoma. In: Barnes L, Eveson JW, Reichart P, Sidransky D, eds. World Health Organization Classification of Tumours. Pathology & Genetics – head and neck tumors. Lyon: IARC Press, 2005; 168–75.
8
Takata T, Ito H, Ogawa I, Miyauchi M, Ijuhin N, Nikai H. Spindle cell squamous carcinoma of the oral region: an immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study on the histogenesis and differential diagnosis with a clinicopathological analysis of six cases. Virchows Archiv A Pathol Anat 1991; 419: 177–82.
9
Lewis JE, Olsen KD, Sebo TJ. Spindle cell carcinoma of the larynx: review of 26 cases including DNA content and immunohistochemistry. Hum Pathol 1997;28 (6):664–73.
10
Choi H-R, Sturgis EM, Rosenthal DI, Luna MA, Batsakis JG, El-Naggar AK. Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the head and neck: molecular evidence for evolution and progression from conventional squamous cell carcinomas. Am J Surg Pathol 2003;27(9):1216–20.
11
Zarbo RJ, Crissman JD, Venkat H, Weiss MA. Spindle-cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract mucosa. An immunohistologic and ultrastructural study of 18 biphasic tumors and comparison with seven monophasic spindle-cell tumors. Am J Surg Pathol 1986;10(11):741–53.
12
Ellis GL. Spindle cell carcinoma of the oral cavity 1980; 6:12.
13
J. G. Batsakis, D. H. Rice, and D. R. Howard, “*e pathology of head and neck tumors: spindle cell lesions (sarcomatoid carcinomas, nodular fasciitis and 8brosarcoma) of the aerodigestive tracts, part 14,” Head & Neck Surgery, vol. 4, no. 6, pp. 499–513, 1982
14
R. Doðan Köseoðlu, Ayþe Sertçelik, Yaþar Ayva. A rare variant of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue; spindle cell carcinoma. Ankara Üniversitesi Týp Fakültesi Mecmuasý 2005; 58:11-14.
15
Su HH, Chu ST, Hou YY, Chang KP, Chen CJ. Spindle cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and oropharynx: factors affecting outcome. J Chin Med Assoc. 2006; 69(6):478– 483.

[1] 1
Bo Young Kim. Kyoung Rai Cho. Jung Heob Sohn. Jung Yeon Kim. Sarcomatoid carcinoma after radiotherapy for early-stage oral squamous cell carcinoma Case report. Medicine. 2019; 98:27

[2] 2
Anderson CE, Al-Nafussi A. Spindle cell lesions of the head and neck: an overview and diagnostic approach. Diagn Histopathol 2009;15(5):264–72

[3] 3
C. Rizzardi, C. Frezzini, M. Maglione, G. Tirelli, and M. Melato, “A look at the biology of spindle cell squamous carcinoma of the oral cavity: report of a case,” Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, vol. 61, no. 2, pp. 264–268, 2003.

[4] 4
H.-R. Choi, E. M. Sturgis, D. I. Rosenthal, M. A. Luna, J. G. Batsakis, and A. K. El-Naggar, “Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the head and neck: molecular evidence for evolution and progression from conventional squamous cell carcinomas,” The American Journal of Surgical Pathology, vol. 27, no. 9, pp. 1216– 1220, 2003

[5] 5
Parikh N, Desai N (2011) Spindle Cell Carcinoma of the oral cavity: A case report of a rare entity and review of literature. J Academy Adv Dental Research 2: 2

[6] 6
Sarma A, Das R, Sharma JD, Kataki AC (2012) A Clinicopathological and Immunohistochemical Study of 40 Cases. Journal of Cancer Therapy 3: 1055-1059

[7] 7
Johnson N, Franceschi S, Ferlay J, et al. Squamous cell carcinoma. In: Barnes L, Eveson JW, Reichart P, Sidransky D, eds. World Health Organization Classification of Tumours. Pathology & Genetics – head and neck tumors. Lyon: IARC Press, 2005; 168–75.

[8] 8
Takata T, Ito H, Ogawa I, Miyauchi M, Ijuhin N, Nikai H. Spindle cell squamous carcinoma of the oral region: an immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study on the histogenesis and differential diagnosis with a clinicopathological analysis of six cases. Virchows Archiv A Pathol Anat 1991; 419: 177–82.

[9] 9
Lewis JE, Olsen KD, Sebo TJ. Spindle cell carcinoma of the larynx: review of 26 cases including DNA content and immunohistochemistry. Hum Pathol 1997;28 (6):664–73.

[10] 10
Choi H-R, Sturgis EM, Rosenthal DI, Luna MA, Batsakis JG, El-Naggar AK. Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the head and neck: molecular evidence for evolution and progression from conventional squamous cell carcinomas. Am J Surg Pathol 2003;27(9):1216–20.

[11] 11
Zarbo RJ, Crissman JD, Venkat H, Weiss MA. Spindle-cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract mucosa. An immunohistologic and ultrastructural study of 18 biphasic tumors and comparison with seven monophasic spindle-cell tumors. Am J Surg Pathol 1986;10(11):741–53.

[12] 12
Ellis GL. Spindle cell carcinoma of the oral cavity 1980; 6:12.

[13] 13
J. G. Batsakis, D. H. Rice, and D. R. Howard, “*e pathology of head and neck tumors: spindle cell lesions (sarcomatoid carcinomas, nodular fasciitis and 8brosarcoma) of the aerodigestive tracts, part 14,” Head & Neck Surgery, vol. 4, no. 6, pp. 499–513, 1982

[14] 14
R. Doðan Köseoðlu, Ayþe Sertçelik, Yaþar Ayva. A rare variant of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue; spindle cell carcinoma. Ankara Üniversitesi Týp Fakültesi Mecmuasý 2005; 58:11-14.

[15] 15
Su HH, Chu ST, Hou YY, Chang KP, Chen CJ. Spindle cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and oropharynx: factors affecting outcome. J Chin Med Assoc. 2006; 69(6):478– 483.