Immunomorphological patterns of cervical lymph nodes in oral squamous cell carcinoma

CONTEXT: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) comprises 80% of the cancers of the oral cavity. Metastases to the cervical lymph nodes affects prognosis. Studying lymph node reactivity may help to understand host immune reaction against the tumor and thus influence prognosis. AIMS: This study observed patterns of lymph node reactivity, metastases and grades of metastases in cervical lymph nodes and compared them with the histopathology of the primary tumor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Lymph nodes from 30 patients of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) were taken. 10 of these were well-differentiated SCC (WDSCC), 10 moderately differentiated SCC (MDSCC) and 10 poorly differentiated SCC (PDSCC). Four immunomorphological patterns were observed: lymphocyte predominance, germinal centre predominance, mixed pattern (sinus histiocytosis) and unstimulated pattern. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Chi square test. RESULTS: The predominant lymph node reactive patterns were germinal centre predominance (79.27%), unstimulated pattern (14.63%) and lymphocyte predominance (6.10%). Positive nodes showed invasion in the form of islands (57.14%), cords (39.29%) and total replacement pattern (3.57%). Tumor involvement in positive nodes showed grade 3 invasion, (53.57%), grade 2 invasion (26.79%), grade 4 invasion (17.86%) and grade 1 invasion (1.79%). Statistically significant association was found between: Lymph node reactive pattern and histopathological grade of primary tumor. Higher numbers of germinal centre predominance lymph nodes were found in WDSCC and MDSCC. Histopathological grade of primary tumor and the grade of lymph node invasion. CONCLUSIONS: Immuno-morphological assessment of draining lymph nodes reflects the immune status of the patient with respect to metastases. This may facilitate identification of high and low risk patients and help in planning appropriate therapy for the high-risk patients.