Basaloid variant of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx: a rare and aggressive subtype with subglottic extension

Abstract

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) is a rare and aggressive variant of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) that was first identified as a separate histopathological entity. It is regarded as a high-grade tumour with increased propensity for metastasis to distant sites. The histological hallmark of BSCC is its dimorphic pattern of presentation with a characteristic basal cell component associated with a squamous cell component. It was included in the revised edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) classification in 1991. In general, it has a predilection for affecting the head and neck region, particularly the upper aerodigestive tract, i.e., larynx and hypopharynx. In the oral cavity, BSCC has commonly been reported in the tongue, though it has been described in other locations such as floor of the mouth, palate, retromolar trigone, and gingival mucosa. Herein, this report presents a case of BSCC arising in the supraglottis with extension into the subglottic and hypopharynx.