Prognostic significance of tumor shape and stromal chronic inflammatory infiltration in squamous cell carcinomas of the oral tongue.

BACKGROUND

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral tongue is well known to be an aggressive disease with early metastatic spread in early stage tumors. It is also established that locoregional recurrences are the main causes of treatment failure. Thus, the identification of histopathological factors possessing a predictive value remains important for the management of the disease. The aim of the present study was to define histopathological parameters of the tumor and to compare with the follow-up and status in primary SCCs of the mobile tongue.

METHODS

Histopathological parameters such as mitotic index, the presence of vascular emboli or perineural invasion, the thickness of the tumor, the histological grade, the tumor shape as well as chronic stromal inflammatory infiltration were assessed in 52 patients with SCC of the mobile tongue and compared with the follow-up and status in patients treated initially by surgery.

RESULTS

Tumor shape was significantly associated with the presence of perineural invasion. Well-defined shaped tumors displayed almost half the incidence of perineural invasion when compared with ill-defined shaped tumors. In addition, the high density of the chronic inflammatory infiltration of the stroma exhibited significant correlation with the survival of the patients. Finally, the intense chronic inflammatory infiltration of the stroma was associated with well-defined shaped tumors.

CONCLUSION

Tumor shape and stromal chronic inflammatory infiltration should be considered in the planning of the management of patients with SCC of the mobile tongue.