Journal of Clinical & Experimental Pathology
Open Access

Abstract

Background: Although newer surgical techniques and radio-chemotherapy regimens have improved survival in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), still overall 5-year survival rate is no more than 60%. Diagnosing oral cancer at an early stage significantly increases 5-year survival rates. Confirmation of metastatic disease is one of the most important prognostic factors in patients with OSCC. Aim: We analyzed morphological features of oral OSCC in patients treated with surgical therapy only, in order to find out which of them influence the metastatic rate. Material & Methods: 100 cases of oral OSCC were analyzed using: 1. clinical parameters 2. radiological methods (US, KT, MRI) 3. histopathological parameters. All the patients underwent tumor excision and neck dissection. Sixty two patients had tumor excision with simultaneous neck dissection and in 38 cases the lymph nodes were followed up through regular monthly controls. Analyzed histopathological parameters were: degree of differentiation, nuclear pleomorphism, type of tumor invasion, inflammatory host reaction, desmoplasia, invasion into vascular channels, perineural spreading, the depth of tumor invasion and vascular and stromal myofibroblasts density in the invasive tumor front. Proliferative index was calculated using immunohistochemical staining with Ki67. Results: The frequency of the neck lymph node metastases was 47% of the overall number of patients. Ct and MRI had limited possibilities in detecting cervical lymph node metastases especially in patients with N1 status. The depth and the type of tumor invasion, vascular invasion, perineural spreading, vascular and myiofibroblastic density, the grade and proliferative index were strongly associated with occurrence of neck metastases.

Biography

Janevska V, MD, PhD, is a tenured Professor of Pathology at the Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University �??Ss Cyril and Methodius�?� in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia. She is Head of the Department for Molecular Pathology at the Institute of Pathology and permanent member in the State Sarcoma Council and several Committees for malignant head and neck diseases, malignant pediatric and malignant urological diseases.With over 120 publications in local and international journals, her research specialty lies in the field of bone and soft tissue tumors. She is an active participant and speaker at numerous regional and international conferences.