Clinicopathological and immunohistochemical analysis of spindle cell carcinoma of the larynx or hypopharynx: A report of three cases

Abstract

Spindle cell carcinoma (SpCC) is a rare and unusual biphasic malignant tumor, which involves sarcomatoid proliferation of pleomorphic spindle cells and squamous cell carcinoma. There are various reports on the clinical and pathological findings of SpCC in the head and neck; however, this type of tumor remains uncommon in the larynx and hypopharynx. The histogenesis of SpCC has been the subject of debate for many decades. Although it is generally accepted that SpCC is a monoclonal epithelial neoplasm, and the spindle cell element is derived from squamous epithelium with divergent mesenchymal differentiation, this type of tumor poses a significant diagnostic challenge to pathologists and clinicians with regard to the therapeutic approach. In the present report, three cases of SpCC of the larynx or hypopharynx were investigated. The histological and immunohistochemistry fi ndings are presented to provide further data on this rare type of tumor.