Small lingual carcinomas that metastasize may be predicted using morphological and immunohistochemical data

Abstract

Head and Neck squamous cell carcinoma is the 6th most common cancer in the first world and oral squamous cell carcinoma the 10th. It comprises 2-3% of all new malignancies diagnosed in the United Kingdom every year. Despite decades of research, the life expectancy of this disease remains the same as it was 30 years ago and its incidence has been rising over the last 10 years. 85% of lingual cancers are found on the tongue’s lateral border. It is known that these cancers spread early to regional lymph nodes. A metastatic cervical lymph node is the single most important factor in the prognosis of lingual cancer, with its presence indicating a 50% reduction in survival rates. Therefore finding predictive factors within these cancers that could foresee whether it will spread early would improve diagnosis, treatment and potentially survival.

Date of Award	Oct 2010
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Brighton