Comparison of Clinical Parameters, Histopathological Features and Status of Intraoperative Surgical Margins Between Recurrent and Non-Recurrent Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Abstract

Aim: To assess the role of various clinical and histological parameters in depicting recurrence in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Methodology: After seeking clearance from the institutional ethical clearance board, 171 excised cases of OSCC were included in the present study and divided into two groups (recurrent OSCC-rOSCC and non-recurrent OSCC- nOSCC). Data pertaining to the age, gender, site, laterality, histological grade, perineural invasion (PNI), lymphovascular emboli (LVE), bone invasion, depth of invasion, pathological tumor stage, nodal metastases, the status of surgical margins-intraoperatively, and recurrence were recorded and compared utilizing SPSS software.

Result: There was no statistically significant difference between the mean age of nOSCC (51.03±10.27 years) and rOSCC (51.87±10.39 years). Similary, no statistically significant differences were noted between the two study groups in the purview of the site (p-value: 0.505), laterality (p-value: 0.954), histological grade (p-value: 0.370), LVE (p value:0.109), bone involvement (p-value: 0.290), depth of invasion (p-value: 0.091) and pathological tumor stage (p-value: 0.174). However, there were significantly more instances of PNI (p-value: <0.001) and nodal metastasis in rOSCC (p-value: 0.019). Further, a statistically significant association was noted between the status of the margins at initial resection as compared to cases where clearance was achieved by subsequent revisions (p-value: <0.001).

Conclusion: Perineural invasion, positive margins at the initial cut and positive nodal metastasis are associated with higher recurrence in oral squamous cell carcinoma.