Squamous cell carcinomas arising from adnexal ductal cysts.

Abstract

Malignant tumors arising from adnexal cysts are rare. We report 2 cases of squamous cell carcinomas that developed within cystic structures arising from adnexal ducts. An in situ hybridization technique for human papillomaviruses (HPV)-6/11, -16, -18, and -31, and immunohistochemical staining for p53 were performed. Both tumors showed focal expression of HPV-16 within areas showing squamoid changes and diffuse expression of p53 within the areas of invasive squamous cell carcinoma. Although nuclear staining for HPV has been identified in tumors of adnexal origin, to our knowledge these are the first cases in which a highly oncogenic HPV subtype, HPV-16, has been identified within squamous cell carcinomas arising from adnexal ductal structures. These cases may help explain primary cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas with no epidermal origin.