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

• DOI: 10.1007/s00784-019-02804-4
• Publication Date: 2019-01-24T11:57:49Z
• Authors: Ali-Farid Safi; Kathrin Grochau; Uta Drebber; Volker Schick; Oliver Thiele; Tim Backhaus; Hans-Joachim Nick...; Joachim E. Zöller; Matthias Kreppel
• Keywords: Perineural invasion; Grading (engineering); Univariate analysis; Lymphovascular invasion

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