Oral carcinoma cuniculatum: an unacquainted entity with diagnostic challenges—a case report

Authors

Safaa Baz Dr., Lecturer, Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, The British University in EgyptFollow
Hatem Wael Amer, Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo UniversityFollow
Ali A. Wahed, Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-17-2022

Abstract

Background: Oral carcinoma cuniculatum (OCC) is an unacquainted well-diferentiated subtype of oral squamous cell carcinoma, which displays unique clinic-pathological features. Up to date, OCC remains rare with about 75 reported cases, and is frequently missed or even misdiagnosed. Case presentation: The aim of the present work was: to report a case of OCC in mandibular gingiva and to highlight its main clinic-pathological diagnostic features: with an exophytic cobble-stone surface and a characteristic endophytic burrowing architecture, as well as to diferentiate between it and other closely similar lesions including verrucous carcinoma, papillary squamous cell carcinoma, and well-diferentiated conventional oral squamous cell carcinoma. Conclusions: An accurate diagnosis of OCC entails awareness of the clinicians and pathologists about its entity, proper knowledge of the diagnostic clinical and histopathological evidence, and the ability to diferentiate it from closely similar lesions.

Comments

An interesting very rare case report of Oral carcinoma cuniculatum, only about 75 cases were previously diagnosed worldwide.

Recommended Citation

Baz, S., Amer, H.W. & Wahed, A.A. Oral carcinoma cuniculatum: an unacquainted entity with diagnostic challenges—a case report. J Egypt Natl Canc Inst 34, 3 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s43046-021-00101-4