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Spindle-Cell Carcinoma

Spindle-cell carcinoma is a specific type of squamous-cell cancer that starts as a localized disease. When it appears on the skin, it usually occurs in sun-damaged areas or in preexisting lesions, according to the Free Dictionary website. It can also occur in the bronchial airways of smokers. This disease derives its name from its characteristic rapidly growing spindle-shaped cells.

  1. Squamous-Cell Cancers

    • Squamous-cell carcinoma is a general term used to describe malignancies--or cancers--occurring in the epithelial (top layers) of the skin. Only five percent of all adult cancers occur in head and neck tissues, but 90 percent of those are characterized as squamous cell. Men are more likely to suffer from these cancers than women, but only by a slight margin, according to eMedicine's website.

    Terminology

    • Spindle-cell carcinoma is also known as carcinosarcoma, spindle-cell squamous-cell carcinoma (or spindle-cell SCC) and sarcomatoid carcinoma; eMedicine endorses the term spindle-cell carcinoma, as it believes the others may be misleading. Even though it is classified as a squamous-cell cancer, the word "squamous" refers to a plate shape, not a needle or spindle shape. Confusing terms have even led patients to be informed they have a sarcoma, a type of cancer different from spindle-cell carcinoma.

    Incidence

    • Spindle-cell carcinoma usually occurs in the head and neck region. The most common places for this disease to show itself, in order of highest to lowest frequency, is the larynx, oral cavity, hypopharynx, pyriform sinus, sinonasal tract and oropharynx. (The terms hypopharynx and oropharynx refer to parts of the pharynx, or the section of the throat between the mouth and voice box.)

    Symptoms

    • Spindle-cell carcinoma often appears as a tumor or an ulceration. This ulceration may be infected, exuding pus or containing an abscess. Particularly in the early stages of the disease, patients with spindle-cell carcinoma may not display any other signs.

    Diagnosis and Treatment

    • Diagnosis of spindle-cell carcinoma is determined by symptoms and laboratory tests of tumor samples. Under a microscope, spindle cells are characterized by a transition from conventional squamous cells to elongated, spindle-shaped cells. If no such transitional region is immediately apparent, tests are still performed to ultimately rule out spindle-cell carcinoma. These include the immunoperoxidase test and a series of keratin-stained tissue tests under a microscope.

      The preferred method of treatment is surgery to remove the diseased tissue.

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