Silveira FM, Schuch LF, Bologna-Molina R. Classificatory updates in verrucous and cuniculatum carcinomas: Insights from the 5th edition of WHO-IARC head and neck tumor classification. World J Clin Oncol 2024; 15(4): 464-467 [PMID: 38689630 DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v15.i4.464]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Ronell Bologna-Molina, DDS, MSc, PhD, Professor, Department of Diagnostics in Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 1600, Uruguay. ronellbologna@hotmail.com
Research Domain of This Article
Pathology
Article-Type of This Article
Editorial
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Clin Oncol. Apr 24, 2024; 15(4): 464-467 Published online Apr 24, 2024. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v15.i4.464
Classificatory updates in verrucous and cuniculatum carcinomas: Insights from the 5th edition of WHO-IARC head and neck tumor classification
Felipe Martins Silveira, Lauren Frenzel Schuch, Ronell Bologna-Molina
Felipe Martins Silveira, Lauren Frenzel Schuch, Ronell Bologna-Molina, Department of Diagnostics in Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 1600, Uruguay
Ronell Bologna-Molina, Department of Oral Pathology, Universidad Juarez del Estado de Durango, Durango 13400, Mexico
Author contributions: Silveira FM contributed to conceptualization, investigation, writing – original draft; Schuch LF contributed to investigation, writing – original draft; Bologna-Molina R contributed to supervision, writing/review & editing; all authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Ronell Bologna-Molina, DDS, MSc, PhD, Professor, Department of Diagnostics in Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 1600, Uruguay. ronellbologna@hotmail.com
Received: December 9, 2023 Peer-review started: December 9, 2023 First decision: January 28, 2024 Revised: February 2, 2024 Accepted: March 20, 2024 Article in press: March 20, 2024 Published online: April 24, 2024
Abstract
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and World Health Organization (WHO) collaboratively produce the 'WHO Blue Books' essential tools standardizing the diagnostic process for human cancers. Regular updates in this classification accommodate emerging molecular discoveries, advances in immunohistochemical techniques, and evolving clinical insights. The 5th edition of the WHO/IARC classification of head and neck tumors refines the 'Oral Cavity and Mobile Tongue' chapter, including sections for non-neoplastic lesions, epithelial tumors, and tumors of uncertain histogenesis. Notably, the epithelial tumors section is rearranged by tumor behavior, starting with benign squamous papillomas and progressing through potentially malignant oral disorders to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The section on OSCC reflects recent information on epidemiology, pathogenesis, and histological prognostic factors. Noteworthy is the specific categorization of verrucous carcinoma (VC) and carcinoma cuniculatum (CC), both associated with the oral cavity and distinct in clinical and histologic characteristics. This classification adjustment emphasizes the oral cavity as their predominant site in the head and neck. Designating specific sections for VC and CC aims to provide comprehensive insights into these unique subtypes, elucidating their clinical features, distinct histological characteristics, prevalence, significance, and clinical relevance. By categorizing these subtypes into specific sections, the 5th edition of the WHO classification aims to provide a more nuanced and detailed account, enhancing our understanding of these specific variants within the broader spectrum of head and neck tumors.
Core Tip: The collaboration between the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) has produced indispensable 'WHO Blue Books' crucial for standardizing cancer diagnostics. In the 5th edition of the WHO/IARC classification of head and neck tumors, the 'Oral Cavity and Mobile Tongue' chapter refines its structure, introducing sections for non-neoplastic lesions, epithelial tumors, and tumors with uncertain histogenesis. Notable adjustments in the epithelial tumors section highlight a reorganization based on tumor behavior, offering comprehensive insights into distinct subtypes.
