Lymph node ratio as an independent prognostic factor in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
We aimed to validate the lymph node ratio (LNR) as an independent prognostic factor in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and compare its utility with the current nodal staging system.


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective analysis of 313 patients with OSCC undergoing neck dissection. The LNR was adjusted by relevant covariates in a multivariable Cox regression model.


RESULTS
LNR displaced conventional nodal staging and was shown to be an independent predictor of regional failure (p = .020), disease-specific (p = .003) and overall survival (p = .001). Patients with an LNR of 2.5% to 7.5%, 7.5% to 20%, and >20% had 2.6, 3.7, and 4.4 times the risk of death from OSCC, respectively, when compared with patients with an LNR <2.5%.


CONCLUSIONS
The LNR is an independent prognostic factor in OSCC and may be used in conjunction with the current TNM staging to enable better risk stratification and selection for adjuvant therapy.
Ebrahimi
Ardalan
A
Sydney Head and Neck Cancer Institute and The Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia. ardalan100@hotmail.com
Clark
Jonathan R
JR
Zhang
Wan Jing
WJ
Elliott
Michel S
MS
Gao
Kan
K
Milross
Christopher G
CG
Shannon
Kerwin F
KF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D037981:Neck Dissection; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies