@article{Carnate_2012, title={Spindle Cell Carcinomas of the Upper Aerodigestive Tract}, volume={27}, url={https://pjohns.pso-hns.org/index.php/pjohns/article/view/535}, DOI={10.32412/pjohns.v27i2.535}, abstractNote={<p>A 65-year-old male with a two-month history of cough and hoarseness underwent direct laryngoscopy which showed a 1.5 cm diameter polypoid glottic mass. A polypectomy was performed revealing spindle cell carcinoma.</p> <p> </p> <p>The World Health Organization (2005) defines a spindle cell carcinoma as “a biphasic tumor composed of a squamous cell carcinoma, either in-situ and/or invasive, and a malignant spindle cell component with a mesenchymal appearance, but of epithelial origin.”<sup>1</sup> Spindle cell carcinomas go by a variety of synonyms such as sarcomatoid carcinoma, spindle cell squamous carcinoma and carcinosarcoma.</p> <p> </p> <p>The larynx is a preferred site of involvement where they often present as polypoid masses.<sup>1,3 </sup>Microscopic examination often shows predominance of the sarcomatoid, spindle-cell component, which can range from fairly bland, reactive-looking fibroblastic-proliferation-like processes, to cytologically malignant and mitotically active proliferations that mimic other spindle-cell sarcomas such as leiomyosarcoma, fibrosarcoma or malignant fibrous histiocytoma.<sup>1,2,3 </sup>(Figure 1, double arrows)  The squamous cell carcinoma component may be in the form of an overlying carcinoma-in-situ, or of a focal keratinizing invasive squamous cell carcinoma that requires multiple sections to disclose.<sup>1,2 </sup> (Figure 1, single arrow) Cytokeratin-reactivity in the spindle cells, <em>which may be quite focal as in this case</em>, points to their epithelial derivation.<sup>1,2,4</sup> (Figure 2)</p> <p>Favorable prognostic findings include polypoid morphology and, like conventional laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas, a low-stage and a glottic site of origin. Reported 5-year survival rates range from 65 – 95%.<sup>1</sup></p> <p> </p>}, number={2}, journal={Philippine Journal of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery}, author={Carnate, Jose M.}, year={2012}, month={Dec.}, pages={37–38} }