Assessment of morphological parameters associated with neural invasion in oral squamous cell carcinoma

AIMS: Neural invasion (NI) is a form of tumor spread distinct from lymphatic and vascular invasion. It has been correlated with aggressive behavior, disease recurrence and increased morbidity and mortality. Despite the importance of NI as a prognostic indicator, the mechanism and associated factors are poorly understood. Hence, the aim of this study was to determine morphological parameters associated with NI in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). METHODOLOGY: One hundred and five archival specimens of patients with primary OSCC who underwent surgical excision and radical neck dissection were included in the study. The presence of NI was analyzed in slides and correlated with clinical as well as morphological parameters using univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: NI was identified in 31 cases (29%) of OSCC. NI was significantly associated with tobacco habit, lymphovascular invasion and positive surgical margins. Multivariate analysis further emphasized these factors to be significant risk factors for NI. Peri-NI and intra-NI significantly associated with the size of the tumor, while the distance of invasion was associated with advanced stage. CONCLUSION: NI is associated with multiple morphological parameters and its identification may have a significant impact on the management and prognostic evaluation of OSCC.