A case of spindle cell carcinoma arising in the floor of the mouth after treatment of sqamous cell carcinoma on the contralateral side of the tongue

• Published in: Japanese Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Vol. 45; no. 3; pp. 187 - 189
• Main Authors: HAGIWARA, Toshiyuki, YOSHIDA, Hiroshi, FURUYA, Yasunobu, MIYAJIMA, Youjiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japanese Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 1999
• Subjects: multiple primary cancers; spindle cell carcinoma
• ISSN: 0021-5163; 2186-1579; 2186-1579
• DOI: 10.5794/jjoms.45.187

A case of spindle cell carcinoma arising in the floor of the mouth approximately3 years after treatment for squamous cell carcinoma on the contralateral side of the tongue is presented. A 78-year-old woman was initially referred to our department because of a painful white lesion on the left lateral border of the tongue, which was diagnosed pathologically as leukoplakia. Three years 3 months later, squamous cell carcinoma developed from the lesion and was successfully treated with a combination of irradiation and surgery. Three years and 3 months after completion of treatment, a polypoid mass appeared on the right side of the floor of the mouth. Biopsy revealed atypical spindle-shaped cells showing sarcomatous differentiation associated with squamous cell carcinomatous components and very frequent mitoses, leading to a diagnosis of spindle cell carcinoma. The cancer was intraorally irradiated with a remote after loading system because the patient did not consent to surgical intervention. She died of an uncontrolled tumor 7 months after radiotherapy.