Distinctive clinical and microscopic features of squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity and lip

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 2010 Mar;109(3):e74-9. doi: 10.1016/j.tripleo.2009.10.034.

Abstract

Objective: This study was undertaken to gain insight into the distinctive features of squamous cell carcinoma of the lip (LSCC) and oral cavity (OCSCC).

Study design: A total of 37 cases of LSCC and 54 of OCSCC were compared regarding clinical and microscopic findings.

Results: Predominance of head and neck TNM stages (HNTNM) T1-T2 in LSCC and T3-T4 in OCSCC was observed. A significant percentage (33.3%) of patients with OCSCC at HNTNM T1-T2 presented cervical lymph node metastasis and 18.75% died, whereas lymph node metastasis was absent and no patient died with LSCC at HNTNM T1-T2. LSCC demonstrated a higher number of cases with intense peritumoral inflammatory infiltrate compared with OCSCC. The analysis of the proliferative index demonstrated a significantly higher percentage of PCNA+ and Ki-67+ cells in OCSCC compared with LSCC.

Conclusion: Our results suggest that OCSCC and LSCC demonstrate distinct clinical and microscopic characteristics that reflect different biologic behavior and prognosis.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / mortality
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology*
  • Cell Count
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lip Neoplasms / mortality
  • Lip Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Lymphatic Metastasis / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mouth Neoplasms / mortality
  • Mouth Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Single-Blind Method
  • Survival Rate