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Squamous Carcinoma of Tongue
Etiology

Associated with tobacco use (cigarettes, snuff, chewing tobacco) and alcohol use
Role for human papillomavirus infection as well
Pathogenesis

Multistep process associated with chromosomal loss
Exact mechanisms are unclear
Proceed from an intraepithelial lesion to invasive disease,
Epidemiology

More common in men than women
Patients are usually >50
2-4% of carcinomas overall are oral cavity; >95% are squamous
General Gross Description

Elevated white plaque which may fungate and then undergo central necrosis
Gray white firm cut section
•Examples:
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Tongue Squamous Carcinoma of Tongue
General Microscopic Description

Nests and strands of cells which have eosinophilic often keratinizing cytoplasm
Nuclei are pleomorphic and hyperchromatic with coarsely granular chromatin
Nucleoli may be prominent.
•Examples:
Clinical Correlation

Slow growing lesions that metastasize to regional lymph nodes
Local control may be difficult particularly at the base of the tongue
References

Cotran RS, Kumar V, Robbins SL: Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease. 5th ed. Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders, 1994, pp. 740-1.

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Squamous Carcinoma of Tongue
Synopsis by: Melinda Sanders M.D. (T53000M80703)[346]
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