Primary cutaneous squamous carcinomas (SCC) with mucin production are extremely rare. These lesions are generally infiltrative and aggressive with a high rate of metastasis and poor survival.

A 86-year-old male with a 1,5 cm papule on the forehead. A excision biopsy was performed.

Histopathological findings revealed that superficially invasive well differentiated SCC containing mucin-producing cells, both within the intraepidermal and dermal components, and without distinct gland formation. Histopathologic differential diagnosis includes skin tumors exhibiting mucin-containing cells, mainly adenosquamous carcinoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Both are characterised by the presence of glanduler structures. The immunohistochemical profile of the mucin producing cells was weakly pankeratin positive, CEA negative, BerEP4 negative and p16 positive. Mucin is not a normal product of adult keratinocytes.

We report rare case of SCC with mucinous metaplasia in which positivity with p16. The association of mucinous metaplasia and HPV in a cutaneous SCC may be of interest to the pathologist.