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A novel histopathological scoring system for patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma

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Abstract

Objectives

Tumor invasion into blood and/or lymphatic vessels, perineural invasion, and histopathological grading are evaluated to assess the biological aggressiveness of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We aim to assess the prognostic impact of a novel scoring system, based upon the aforementioned histological parameters.

Materials and methods

Retrospective chart review of 334 patients with treatment-naive squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. Statistical analysis was performed using univariate and multivariate analysis. Histological grade G1 or G2 were assigned 0 points and G3 or G4 1 point. Invasion of the lymphatic vessels, blood vessels, or perineural space was given 1 point. Zero points were given, when invasion was not detectable. The final score was conducted through addition of each parameter. Therefore, our scoring system ranged between 0 and 4 points.

Results

T-classification (p < 0.001), N-classification (p < 0.001), UICC stage (p < 0.001), extracapsular spread (p < 0.001), locoregional recurrence (p < 0.001), and overall survival (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with the OSCC-Histoscore. In multivariate analysis, T-classification (p = 0.001), N-classification (p = 0.039), resection margins (p = 0.038), and OSCC-Histoscore (p < 0.001) were independent prognostic markers for overall survival rate.

Conclusion

Our presented OSCC-Histoscore serves as a strong independent prognostic parameter for 5-year overall survival (OS) and predicts OS better than T-classification, N-classification, and resection margins.

Clinical relevance

Our presented histoscore improves prediction of the overall survival of patients with OSCC.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department for Oral and Craniomaxillofacial Plastic Surgery, University of Cologne, Kerpener Straße 62, 50931, Cologne, Germany

    Ali-Farid Safi, Kathrin Grochau, Tim Backhaus, Hans-Joachim Nickenig, Joachim E. Zöller & Matthias Kreppel

  2. Center for Integrated Oncology Cologne-Bonn, Cologne, Germany

    Ali-Farid Safi, Kathrin Grochau, Uta Drebber, Volker Schick, Tim Backhaus, Hans-Joachim Nickenig, Joachim E. Zöller & Matthias Kreppel

  3. Department for Pathology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

    Uta Drebber

  4. Department for Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

    Volker Schick

  5. Department for Oral and Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery, Klinikum Ludwigshafen, Ludwigshafen, Germany

    Oliver Thiele

Authors
  1. Ali-Farid Safi
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  2. Kathrin Grochau
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  3. Uta Drebber
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  4. Volker Schick
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  5. Oliver Thiele
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  6. Tim Backhaus
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  7. Hans-Joachim Nickenig
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  8. Joachim E. Zöller
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  9. Matthias Kreppel
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Correspondence to Ali-Farid Safi.

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The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Due to the retrospective nature of this study, it was granted an exemption in writing by the University Hospital of Cologne IRB. Our investigation followed the guidelines of the Helsinki Declaration. This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

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Safi, AF., Grochau, K., Drebber, U. et al. A novel histopathological scoring system for patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. Clin Oral Invest 23, 3759–3765 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-019-02804-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-019-02804-4

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