Histological differentiation of primary oral squamous cell carcinomas in an area of betel quid chewing prevalence
Received 23 June 2009; received in revised form 18 August 2009; accepted 18 September 2009.
Abstract
Objectives
This study evaluated associations between the histological differentiation of oral squamous cell carcinoma and additional clinicopathological manifestations, adverse events after treatment, and the outcomes of patients in a region prevalent for betel quid chewing.
Study Design
Case series with chart review.
Setting
Tertiary referral center.
Subjects and Methods
A total of 150 patients with primary oral squamous cell carcinomas who underwent surgery with or without adjuvant therapy were enrolled.
Results
Well, moderate, and poorly differentiated oral squamous cell carcinomas were reported in 54 (36%), 84 (56%), and 12 (8%) patients, respectively. There were no significant differences among different histological differentiations in age, sex, tumor, node, metastasis stage, bone invasion, depth of invasion, and history of carcinogen exposure. However, we found significant associations between tumor histological differentiation and nodal metastasis (P < 0.0001), extracapsular spread (P = 0.002), and perineural invasion (P < 0.0001). In the analysis of adverse events for survival during patient follow-up, oral squamous cell carcinomas with poor differentiation had a higher probability of developing neck recurrence (P = 0.001) and distant metastasis (P = 0.019), but not local recurrence or a second primary cancer. For survival analysis, univariate analysis showed that patient age, tumor stage, extracapsular spread, presence of perineural invasion, and tumor differentiation were significant factors. Multivariate analysis further demonstrated that poor differentiation (P = 0.007) was still a statistically significant factor.
Conclusion
The current study demonstrates that poorer tumor histological classifications of oral squamous cell carcinoma are significantly associated with positive nodal status, extracapsular spread, perineural invasion of primary tumors, and the probability of developing neck recurrence and distant metastasis after treatment.
aDepartment of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
bDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
cDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
dDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
eDepartment of Pathology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
fGraduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Corresponding author: Kai-Ping Chang, MD, PhD, Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, No. 5 Fu-Shin Street, Kwei-Shan, Taoyuan, Taiwan
No sponsorships or competing interests have been disclosed for this article.
ABSTRACT