27 Head and Neck Pathology Flashcards
Describe the presentation of Herpes in the oral cavity
- HSV type I, transmission person to person
- Virus persists in the dormant state (asymptomatic)
- Reactivation results in vesicles:
- intraepithelial edema -> clear fluid -> rupture -> ulcer
- multinucleated cells with intranuclear viral inclusions
What is the test for Herpes?
Tzanck test (swab ulcer and smear on slide)
What histology is observed in Herpes of the oral cavity?
- “3 Ms”:
- Multinucleation
- Molding (conformity of adjacent cell nuclei to one another)
- Margination (chromatin “marginated” near the edge of the cell)
What is the most common fungal infection? What are some common causes?
- Candidiasis/Thrush
- Causes:
- Dentures
- Diabetes mellitus
- Steroids/prolonged antibiotics
- Immunosuppression (AIDS, transplant, chemo)
Describe the appearance of candidiasis
White plaque-like pseudomembrane
**scrapes off (erythematous base below)
What stain is used for candidiasis?
GMS silver stain
**Observe fungal hyphae superficially attached to the underlying mucosa
What is the most common cancer of the oral cavity/larynx? What is its etiology/risk factors?
- 95% of cancers are squamous cell carcinoma
- 50-70 years old
- M>F
- Risk factors:
- tobacco and alcohol (synergistic if both)
- family history
- HPV infection (especially 16 and 18)
- Leukoplakia (rare) and erythroplakia (common)
Contrast leukoplakia and erythroplakia
- leukoplakia
- white patch caused by epidermal thickening/hyperkeratosis
- CANNOT be scraped off (unlike thrush)
- occasionally associated with epithelial dysplasia
- 5-25% risk of maligancy
- erythroplakia
- red granular area (may or may not be elevated)
- poorly defined boundaries
- usually associated with epithelial dysplasia
- ~50% risk of maligancy
What is epithelial dysplasia?
Progressive proliferation, loss of polarity, and increased mitotic figures of the immature (basal) cells
Where does squamous cell carcinoma often occur in the oral cavity? What is the prognosis?
- most occur on the tongue and floor of the mouth
- also on gingiva, hard/soft palates, dorsal tongue, mucosa
- prognosis much better when found in early stages
- common metastasis to lymph nodes, lung, liver, and bone
How does a patient present with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx?
Differs depending on location:
- Glottis/true vocal cords= hoarseness
- most common location of laryngeal carcinoma (thicker epithelium and more damage)
- diagnosed earlier because of symptoms
- Supraglottic or infraglottic= asymptomatic
- diagnosed at later stages (symptoms not until mass spreads and causes hemoptysis, dysphagia, etc)
What is the treatment and prognosis for squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx?
- Treatment:
- surgery (laryngectomy)
- radiation
- 5 year survival:
- stage 1= 70%
- stage 4= 30%
What are the two major variants of squamous cell carcinoma?
Classic keratinizing and HPV associated non-keratinizing
What feature of a squamous cell carcinoma is very likely to increase recurrence of the tumor even after resection?
“Perineural” involvement (aka when the tumor grows around nerves)
What is Waldeyer’s ring?
- Tonsillar type lymphoid tissue “ring” in the back of the mouth composed of:
- palatine tonsils
- base of tongue
- adenoids
- HPV-associated squamous cell carcinoma likes to infect Waldeyer’s ring (increased permeability due to lymphatic function)
Describe HPV-associated squamous cell carcinoma
- occurs in the oropharynx/tonsils
- common serotypes= HPV 16 and 18
- p16 positive IHC staining
- HPV proteins E6 and E7 inactivate p53 and Rb (tumor suppressors)
- frequently metastasizes to neck lymph nodes early in disease
What is seen histologically in HPV-associated squamous cell carcinoma?
- no keratinization
- sheets/strips of cohesive cells with basaloid morphology
- nuclear atypia
- increased mytotic activity
- +/- necrosis