Characteristic imaging findings of acantholytic squamous cell carcinoma: a case report

Abstract

Acantholytic squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) is an uncommon, histopathologically distinct variant of squamous cell carcinoma. ASCC commonly occurs in areas of skin exposed to sunlight and has only rarely been seen on mucosal surfaces such as the oral cavity. Although the World Health Organization has defined ASCC as an original entity, the imaging findings of ASCC have not been adequately described. We herein report a case of ASCC occurring in the oral mucosa with emphasis on the findings of several imaging studies: panoramic radiography, intraoral radiography, contrast-enhanced computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography.