Background: Verrucous carcinoma (VC) is a low-grade squamous cell carcinoma. It presents different morphologic, cytokinetic, and clinical characteristics. In advanced stages, it can infiltrate neighboring tissues despite slow growth and low mitotic activity, but it does not metastasis. The oral cavity is one of the mostly affected sites. Objective: This article reviews oral verrucous carcinoma (OVC) and offers information on its etiology, clinical appearance, diagnosis, and available treatments. Methods: Symptoms, pathogenesis, epidemiology, oral manifestations and management are reviewed. Discussion: OVC appears as a painless, white-grey, warty, exophytic mass that resembles cauliflower. It presents a strong predisposition for local invasion and a low predisposition for diffusion in neighboring structures and metastasizing. Histologically, OVC exhibits a well-differentiated squamous proliferation with a papillary or verrucous epithelial surface and clear hyperkeratosis, invading the subjacent stroma with well-defined, pushing margins. Minor atypical cells are usually seen. Conclusion: OVC is an uncommon tumor. To establish an accurate diagnosis, a comprehensive evaluation is necessary, particularly one that focuses on histology.
Key words: Oral; verrucous; carcinoma; histological examination.
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