title: Eosinophils may predict occult lymph node metastasis in early oral cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate whether tumor-associated tissue eosinophilia (TATE) in early oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) would aid in predicting occult lymph node metastasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-one patients undergoing elective neck dissection for T1 and T2 OSCC were evaluated for clinical features, prognosis, and TATE. The degree of TATE in OSCC was statistically analyzed in relation to the clinicopathological features, tumor invasion, occult lymph node metastasis, and survival using χ(2) test and Kaplan-Meier method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical analysis revealed that intense TATE was a significant feature (p = 0.004) to predict occult lymph node metastasis in patients with early OSCC. All regional recurrences of the OSCC occurred in patients showing intense TATE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that intense TATE can be clinically used as a predictive factor for occult lymph node metastasis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of intense TATE is an adjunctive histopathological marker to reinforce the indication of elective neck dissection of the patients with early OSCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, Area of Pathology, Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Alameda Octávio Pinheiro Brisolla, 9-75, CEP 17012-901, Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil. denisetostes@usp.br
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Biassi
authors.forename: S E S
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Faustino
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Landman
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Kowalski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000473:pathology*; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D037981:Neck Dissection; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000473:pathology; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012907:Smoking; D015996:Survival Rate