Clinical and pathologic prognostic variables in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Eighty-five patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx were studied to assess the value of histopathologic parameters related to their survival. The overall survival was 58 percent at 3 years and 51 percent at 5 years. Stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to determine the prognostic value of each of the histopathologic features. The extent of in situ carcinoma and presence of multifocality were positive predictors of survival, and perineural invasion and nodal involvement on clinical examination were negative predictors. None of the other parameters used in this study attained statistical significance. We conclude that the histologic grade traditionally used to predict clinical behavior may not be useful. Clinical stage, particularly nodal status; perineural invasion; and the multifocal or in situ disease, should be considered in pathologic reports to provide better prognostic profile in oropharyngeal carcinoma.