title: Pseudovascular squamous cell carcinoma of the skin.
abstract: The presence of acantholysis in squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) may rarely be so extreme that, histologically, it mimics a vascular tumour. However, careful histological examination and immunohistochemical study usually lead to the correct diagnosis. We describe such a case to highlight the clinico-pathological features of this rare form of cutaneous malignancy and to emphasize the difficulties in establishing the correct diagnosis. We also review similar cases reported in the literature. Pseudovascular SCC shows a higher degree of recurrence and metastasis than other variants of SCC. Acantholytic foci in these tumours may demonstrate changes in keratinocyte differentiation markers, and this may explain the more aggresive biological behaviour in the pseudovascular variant of SCC.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Dermatology and Pathology, Hospital General Universitario, Valencia, Spain. eduyame@meditex.es
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nagore
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Motilla
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pérez-Vallés
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martínez-Lahuerta
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Alegre
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aliaga
mesh_terms: D000051:Acantholysis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004428:Ear Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004431:Ear, External; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*