title: Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: report of 18 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical course and pathological characteristics of basaloid head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study of 18 cases of basaloid head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Epidemiological, clinical and histological data were analysed and the Kaplan-Meier test used to estimate survival rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of lesions were at an advanced stage. These lesions were primarily localised in the larynx, hypopharynx and oropharynx. Routine pre-therapeutic assessment of squamous cell carcinoma was performed. Pathological diagnosis was difficult, although immunostaining was extremely useful. Positive staining for KL1, MNF 116 and 34βE12 and negative immunostaining for chromogranin and synaptophysin were also important factors in obtaining a definitive diagnosis. In the majority of cases, treatment involved surgery and radiotherapy. The five-year survival rate was 5 per cent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma is an uncommon head and neck lesion, with a challenging histological diagnosis. These lesions must be carefully monitored due to their aggressive course, and require multimodality treatment.
authors: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Rouen University Hospital, Rouen, France. olivier.choussy@chu-rouen.fr
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Choussy
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Bertrand
authors: A
authors: A
authors: François
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Blot
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Hamidou
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Dehesdin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002281:Carcinoma, Basosquamous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D015996:Survival Rate