An investigation into the role of histological parameters in the prediction of the prognosis for tl and t2 oral squamous cell carcinomas

Abstract

TI and T2 squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck have an unpredictable prognosis that often pose therapeutic problems. Sophisticated methods such as cytometric DNA analysis, immunocytochemistry and detection of cellular growth factors, have been applied with varying success rates for predicting recurrences, metastatic rates and overall prognoses. However, with the general lack of resources in Africa, devising a simple, reliable, reproducible and cost-effective method of predicting tumour behaviour to aid optimal treatment planning is imperative. Surgical excision specimens of forty-eight primary Tl and T2 squamous cell carcinomas of the floor of the mouth and tongue were histologically evaluated by two individual pathologists (double-blinded study) who had no prior knowledge of clinical course or outcome.