Pigmented squamous cell carcinoma with dendritic melanocyte colonization in the external auditory canal

A case of pigmented squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with dendritic melanocyte colonization in the external auditory canal is reported and the previous c ases are reviewed, A 65-year-old Japanese female was referred with a 7-year history of otitis, The patient also had a darkly pigmented 9 x 8 mm nodule in the external auditory canal, Microscopically, the tumor was SCC, but in some areas melanin pigments were found in;the cytoplasm of the tumor cells . The tumor was thus,diagnosed as pigmented SCC, As well as the tumor cells , dendritic-shaped cells colonized the tumor parenchyma and were immunohist ochemically defined as melanocytes. The authors believe this is the first c ase of pigmented SCC with dendritic melanocyte colonization in the external auditory canal.