Distribution of basement membrane in supraglottic carcinoma

The object of this study was to assess the distribution of basement membrane in supraglottic squamous cell carcinomas. Expression of type IV collagen was detected by immunohistochemistry in resected supraglottic squamous cell carcinomas, and the correlation was examined between expression of type IV collagen and clinicopathological factors and cervical lymph node metastasis of supraglottic squamous cell carcinomas patients. An intact, continuous basement membrane was found in 17 cases (42.5%), while partial or widespread loss of the basement membrane was detected in the other 23 cases (57.5%). Heavily defective basement membrane was much more frequently observed in cases with poor histological differentiation (P < 0.05). Cases with BM destruction were more likely to be accompanied by cervical lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). These data suggest that assessing the distribution pattern of basement membrane may be helpful in evaluating the malignancy grading of supraglottic squamous cell carcinomas and the potential occurrence of cervical lymph node metastasis.