Gingival Presentation of Verrucous Carcinoma- A Rare Case.

ABSTRACT

Verrucous carcinoma also known as Ackerman’s tumour is a variant of well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma that affects cutaneous and mucosal surfaces. Ackerman’s tumour accounts for 1-10% of cases of Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the epithelial lining of oral mucosa and gingiva. It appears as slowly enlarging warty, exophytic cauliflower like overgrowth, grey or white in colour and is seen commonly in older males.1 Tobacco consumption has been the primary aetiology of verrucous carcinoma.2,3 The oncogenic viruses HPV 16 and 18 are also implicated in the aetiology of this condition.4 Other etiological factors may include smoking, poor hygiene and alcohol abuse. Verrucous carcinoma shows typical clinical behaviour being locally invasive. The rate of nodal metastasis is less, neck dissection and radiotherapy are the least opted modalities for treatment. The treatment of this is usually surgical excision and prognosis is fair. In this paper we report a typical gingival presentation of verrucous carcinoma bilaterally along with the clinicopathological diagnosis and a review of scientific literature.