[Early invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue--report of a case].

: A 65-year-old woman with early invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue is reported. Atypical but not definitely malignant epithelium was detected by cytology, although the gross appearance of the glossal lesion looked like early invasive squamous cell carcinoma. On the surgical material, the basal and para-basal cell layers were occupied by cancer, but the upper portion of the epidermis from the prickle cell layer through the surface of the mucosa was histologically benign. In such cases, to obtain the correct diagnosis on cytology, repeated examinations as well as using a sharp instrument like a curatte are necessary.