Verrucous Carcinoma of the Temporal Bone and Maxillary Antrum: Two Unusual Presentations of a Rare Tumor

Publisher: Karger

E-ISSN: 2296-5262|29|10|463-468

ISSN: 2296-5270

Source: Oncology Research and Treatment, Vol.29, Iss.10, 2006-09, pp. : 463-468

Disclaimer: Any content in publications that violate the sovereignty, the constitution or regulations of the PRC is not accepted or approved by CNPIEC.

Previous Menu Next

Abstract

Verrucous carcinoma (VC) is a low-gradevariant of squamous cell carcinoma. The involvement ofthe temporal bone and maxillary antrum is very rare. Patientsand Methods: The clinicopathologic features of2 such tumors are reported, and the pertinent literatureis reviewed. Results: In the 2 patients, the diagnosticprocedure was complicated due to initial inconclusivehistology. Both were treated with concomitant radiochemotherapy.They were free of disease for 5.8 and11 years after diagnosis. An additional 15 cases of VC ofthe temporal bone and 10 cases of maxillary antrum tumorshave been reported in the literature. In 10 patients,multiple biopsies were required, and in 7 patients, a definitivehistological diagnosis was not obtained beforesurgery. The disease reappeared in 8 out of 15 patientstreated solely with surgery. Only 2 of them were salvagedby reoperation. Radiochemotherapy only (withoutany surgery) was successfully used in 4 patients. Conclusions:VC of the temporal bone or maxillary antrum is anextremely rare tumor. For reliable histological diagnosis,multiple biopsies of deep and ample tissue samples aremandatory. Surgery is a mainstay of therapy; however,radiochemotherapy also represents a viable treatmentoption with curative potential.