title: Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma associated with proliferation of osteoclast-like giant cells.
abstract: Proliferation of osteoclast-like giant cells in a cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is a rare phenomenon and so far only four cases have been reported. In previous reports, osteoclast-like giant cells were admixed with sarcomatoid component of squamous cell carcinoma and it is therefore debatable if the osteoclast-like giant cells represent a reactive phenomenon or a part of the malignant tumour. A case of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma associated with osteoclast-like giant cells is reported. However, sarcomatous component of squamous cell carcinoma was not identified in this case. Morphologically, the osteloclast-like giant cells appeared to be benign. The localization of the squamous cell carcinoma and the osteoclastic-like giant cells were separate from one another. Immunohistochemically, squamous cell carcinoma was positive for high molecular weight cytokeratin, cytokeratin-5 and p63, whereas the osteloclast-like giant cells were positive for histiocyte marker CD68 and vimentin and negative for epithelial markers supporting a reactive nature of osteoclast-like giant cells to the cutaneous malignancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Lab Plus, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yozu
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Glengarry
authors.forename: Syed Salahuddin
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ahmed
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000032:analysis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D015726:Giant Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D014746:Vimentin / Q000032:analysis; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D007633:Keratins; D014746:Vimentin; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule