Distinguishing Primary Pulmonary Squamous Cell Carcinoma from Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Cervix: Utility of p16

Case Report

Austin J Clin Pathol. 2014;1(2): 1006.

Distinguishing Primary Pulmonary Squamous Cell Carcinoma from Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Cervix: Utility of p16

Essel Marie B de Leon*, Jaishree Jagirdar and Nicole Riddle

Department of Pathology, University of Texas, USA

*Corresponding author: Essel Marie B de Leon, Department of Pathology, University of Texas, Health Science Center, Mail Code 7750, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, Texas, 78229-3900, USA

Received: April 10, 2014; Accepted: May 02, 2014; Published: May 06, 2014

Keywords

Squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix; Lung carcinoma; p16

Abbreviations

CT– Computed Tomography; H&E – Hematoxylin and Eosin; HPV– Human Papilloma Virus; ISH – In–Situ Hybridization; SCC – Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background

Pulmonary metastases from squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the cervix are uncommon. It is difficult to distinguish SCC of different primary sites based on histologic features, and without appropriate molecular markers and comparative mutational profiling their metastatic nature can only be implied [1]. P16 immunostain is a wellknown excellent surrogate marker for human papilloma virus (HPV) infection in SCC of the cervix with strong expression in more than 95% of cases [2]. Recently, several studies have assessed the utility of p16 expression as a surrogate marker for HPV infection in noncervical primary sites, including lung, oropharynx, nasopharynx, head and neck, esophagus and skin. This letter is to discuss the diagnostic pitfall in squamous cell carcinoma in the lung in a patient with a previous history of cervical squamous cell carcinoma.

Citation: Leon EMBD, Jagirdar J, Riddle N. Distinguishing Primary Pulmonary Squamous Cell Carcinoma from Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Cervix: Utility of p16. Austin J Clin Pathol. 2014;1(2): 1006. ISSN : 2381-9170