Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue: a case report

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) is a rare distinct variant of squamous cell carcinoma. We report a case of basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue in a 76-year-old Japanese man. The initial clinical examinations revealed a 23 × 25 × 15 mm reddish ulcerated mass with an elastic hard texture at the left lateral border of the tongue. The histopathological findings revealed invasive growth of basaloid epithelial tumor cells that formed nests in the subepithelial layer to the muscle layer. Immunohistochemically, the tumor was positive for p63 protein and had a high Ki-67 labeling index of more than 70% in parts. The patient underwent chemotherapy involving super-selective intra-arterial administration of carboplatin and local irradiation, followed by a subtotal tongue resection. The patient has been followed for 48 months postoperatively without any evidence of disease. The super-selective intra-arterial chemotherapy is a feasible and important application in treating BSCC of the tongue showing aggressive biological behavior.