Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma associated with Proliferation of Osteoclast-Like Giant Cells

Proliferation of osteoclast-like giant cells in a cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is a rare phenomenon and so far only four cases have been reported. in previous reports, osteoclast-like giant cells were admixed with sarcomatoid component of squamous cell carcinoma and it is therefore debatable if the osteoclast-like giant cells represent a reactive phenomenon or a part of the malignant tumour. a case of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma associated with osteoclast-like giant cells is reported. however, sarcomatous component of squamous cell carcinoma was not identified in this case. morphologically, the osteloclast-like giant cells appeared to be benign. the localization of the squamous cell carcinoma and the osteoclastic-like giant cells were separate from one another. immunohistochemically, squamous cell carcinoma was positive for high molecular weight cytokeratin, cytokeratin- 5 and p63, whereas the osteloclast-like giant cells were positive for histiocyte marker cd68 and vimentin and negative for epithelial markers supporting a reactive nature of osteoclast-like giant cells to the cutaneous malignancy.