title: Predictive value of histopathologic parameters in early squamous cell carcinoma of oral tongue.
abstract: The clinical course of early squamous cell carcinoma of oral tongue (OTSCC) is unpredictable and various histopathologic parameters of the primary tumour have been suggested as prognostic factors to be used in clinical decision-making. We reviewed clinicopathologic data of 73 patients diagnosed with Stage I-II OTSCC. Predictive value of pathological T-stage, depth of infiltration, grade, and mode of invasion with respect to local recurrences, occult cervical metastases, and disease specific survival (DSS) was analysed. Depth of infiltration and pT-stage significantly predicted occult nodal disease, while only pT-stage predicted local recurrence. Specific cut-off value for depth of infiltration separating high-risk and low-risk patients was not found. Significant correlations between the histopathologic parameters and DSS were not found. We conclude that depth of infiltration predicted occult nodal disease but its value in clinical decision-making is limited because of poor specificity when using a cut-off value that offers reasonable sensitivity for finding the patients with occult nodal disease. The risk for occult metastases and local recurrence was high in patients with pT2 tumours.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital, P.O. Box 220, FIN - 00029 HUCH, Helsinki, Finland. harri.keski-santti@hus.fi
authors.forename: Harri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Keski-Säntti
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Atula
authors.forename: Jarkko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tikka
authors.forename: Jaakko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hollmén
authors.forename: Antti A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Mäkitie
authors.forename: Ilmo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Leivo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*