Association of Clinicopathological Features with Lymph Node Metastasis: A Cross Sectional Study of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients

Aims: The aim of this study is to determine association between lymph node metastasis and various clinico-pathological parameters in order to predict their future prognosis of cancer patients.

Study Design: Cross sectional study design.

Place and Duration of Study: Ziauddin Hospital, North Nazimabad campus, Karachi.

Methodology: November 2018 to September 2019.

Results: The present study enrolled 140 OSCC patients visiting Ziauddin University of which 30 (21.4%) were females and 110 (78.6%) were male patients. The mean age of patients was 46.99 ± 12.26. The buccal mucosa was the most common site observed 93 (66.4%). The mean size of tumour was 4.05 ± 2.261 mm, mean thickness was 1.70 ±1.32 mm. It was found that lymph node metastasis was not present in 66 (47.1%) of OSCC cases, 22 (15.7%) cases were found N1, 9(6.4%) N2a, 27(19.3%) N2b, 3 (2.1%) and 13(9.3%) N3.

Significant association was found between age and lymph node metastasis: (P 0.02); however, gender showed no significant association. (P 0.149). Thickness of tumor, site of tumor, peri-neural invasion, lympho-vascular invasion and bone penetration showed significant association with lymph node metastasis with (P 0.040, 0.021, 0.016, 0.00 and 0.001) respectively.

Conclusion: Our study showed significant association of lymph node involvement with tumour staging, tumour thickness, lymphovascular involvement, perineural invasion and bone penetration. Our suggestion is to incorporate these clinic-pathological variables while determining the treatment and prognosis of Oral squamous cell Carcinoma (OSCC). Given the very high incidence and prevalence of Oral Cancer in our country and the region further multi-centered researches should be carried out and with larger sample sizes. Early diagnosis and restrictions on smokeless tobacco products can limit the occurrence and progression of OSCC.