Lymph node characteristics and their prognostic significance in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Indu Arun1, Namrata Maity1, Shahin Hameed1
1Department of Pathology, Tata Medical Center, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Background:
The prognostic significance of various histopathologic lymph node-based biomarkers in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) needs further evaluation.
Methods:
Retrospective analysis of 212 OSCC patients with regional metastasis to determine the association of extranodal extension (ENE), extent of ENE, size of metastatic deposit, lymph node yield (LNY), lymph node ratio (LNR), and topography of involvement with survival outcomes.
Results:
The presence of ENE, larger nodal deposit, higher pN stage, lymph nodes in the lower levels, and patients who did not receive adjuvant treatment had poor disease-free survival (DFS). In addition, more positive nodes and high LNR showed worse overall survival (OS). ENE beyond 5 mm resulted in poorer outcomes. Larger sizes of metastatic deposit predisposed to ENE. Multivariate analyses showed only lower level of neck involvement to affect both DFS and OS.
Conclusions:
Lymph node metastasis to lower levels and other lymph node characteristics affect prognosis and must be considered in the evolution of staging systems for OSCC.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Detailed Structure and Function of Lymph Nodes
From a histological perspective, lymph nodes can be split into two main areas: the superficial cortex and the deep medulla. The outer cortex is populated by dendritic cells, macrophages, and B lymphocytes, which are densely packed into follicles. When these B-lymphocytes are presented...
01:15Secondary Lymphoid Organs
The spleen is a vital organ in the lymphatic system, nestled in the upper left side of the abdomen. It is composed of two primary regions: the red pulp and the white pulp, each having distinct functions. The red pulp performs a significant role in blood filtration. It efficiently purges the blood of old or damaged red blood cells and...
01:18Lymphoid Cells and Tissues
Lymphoid cells consist of various types of immune system cells. These include B and T lymphocytes, which are responsible for producing antibodies and killing infected cells, respectively. Dendritic cells act as messengers between the innate and adaptive...