Acantholytic squamous cell carcinoma of larynx: An unusual cause of asphyxial death diagnosed on autopsy

Abstract

Acantholytic squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) is an uncommon histopathological variant of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). This tumor commonly occurs in the sun exposed areas of skin at the head and neck location. The possible occurrence at mucosal sites has seldom been reported. Although, this malignant tumor has an excellent prognosis in the skin, in sharp contrast, mucosal involvement carries a worse prognosis. Here, we explore an intriguing case of an asphyxial death of a 35-year-old man due to a polypoidal mass occluding the airway in the glottic region. Subsequently, based on the histopathological and immunohistochemical findings, the cause of death was diagnosed as ASCC based on histopathological and immunohistochemical findings. Furthermore, this report also highlights the rarity of this variant of SCC at an uncommon location, thus making it the third case ever reported in literature. The other interesting fact about this case is that most of the published reports in the literature have described and diagnosed this rare variant on antemortem examination; contrarily, a postmortem diagnosis of ASCC is exceptional, making it the first report ever in history.