Significance Of Tumor Giant Cells In Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Case Report

Background : Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common cancer of the oral cavity. OSCC presents with some typical histopathological characteristics like dysplastic epithelial cells with variable degrees of squamous differentiation. These histopathological features make it relatively easy to diagnose conventional squamous cell carcinoma. However, some cases show certain unique features that help in determining the prognosis of the disease. These features include epithelial-mesenchymal interaction, stromal hyalinization, clear cell change, stromal desmoplasia, perineural invasion, vascular invasion, tissue eosinophilia, giant cells and tertiary lymphoid follicle formation. The presence of giant cells in OSCC can be the result of foreign body reaction to keratin or due to formation of malignant tumor giant cells in poorly differentiated carcinomas. The giant cells showing pleomorphic features can be helpful in predicting the prognosis of the disease.