Enigma of Acantholytic and Clear Cell Changes in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Only limited cases have been reported about the clear cell variant of squamous cell carcinoma occurring in the oral cavity. The present study regards the case showing the histopathological features of both the clear cell and acantholytic variants of oral squamous cell carcinoma. A review of the literature has been done to understand the pathogenesis of those changes. Also, a hypothesis has been given that the clear cell changes could be the consequences of the cascades of the acantholytic process and not a separate entity. Therefore, more research is required to confirm this hypothesis and understand the prognosis of the lesion.