Logo image
Role of Lymphovascular Invasion in Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma Regional Metastasis and Prognosis
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Role of Lymphovascular Invasion in Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma Regional Metastasis and Prognosis

Abigail E. Moore, Sameer A. Alvi, Osama Tarabichi, Vivian L. Zhu and Marisa R. Buchakjian
Annals of otology, rhinology & laryngology, Vol.133(3), pp.300-306
03/2024
DOI: 10.1177/00034894231211116
PMCID: PMC11578272
PMID: 37927046

View Online

Abstract

Objective: The overall 5-year survival for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has not changed in the last 20 years despite advances in treatment. Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) has been shown to be a negative prognostic factor in other cancers, however its role in the prognosis of OSCC remains unclear. This study aims to determine if LVI is a predictor of cervical lymph node metastasis and/or recurrence in OSCC. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort review of patients from our institutional cancer registry who were treated for OSCC between 2004 and 2018. Patient demographics, surgical pathology results, and clinical outcome data were collected. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine if LVI was an independent predictor of cervical lymph node metastasis and/or recurrence. Results: 442 patients were included, 32.8% were female and median age at time of diagnosis was 61.2 years. LVI was present in 32.8% of patients. When controlled for age, sex, t-classification, perineural invasion, depth of invasion (DOI), and margin status, LVI was a significant predictor of the presence of cervical node metastasis (OR: 3.42, CI: 2.17-5.39, P < .001). There was no significant association found between LVI and local recurrence (OR: 1.03, CI: 0.57-1.84, P = .92), regional recurrence (OR: 1.10, CI: 0.57-2.11, P = .78), or distant recurrence (OR: 1.59, CI: 0.87-2.94, P = .13). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that LVI is a significant predictor of the presence of cervical lymph node metastasis at presentation independent of other known prognostic factors. LVI, however, was not found to be a significant independent predictor of locoregional or distant recurrence. Level of Evidence: Level III

Details

Metrics

Logo image