Importance of tumor budding grade as independent prognostic factor for early tongue squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Background

Factors involved in neck lymph node metastasis (NLM) and prognosis of early tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) remain unknown.

Methods

We analyzed disease‐specific survival (DSS) and NLM including tumor budding grade (TBG) among 64 patients with cT1/2N0 tongue SCC.

Results

Univariate analysis of DSS of primary lesions uncovered significant differences in new cT, pT, new pT, pDiameter, venous infiltration, and TBG. Multivariate analysis selected only TBG3 as a predictor of NLM (odds ratio, 9.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.80‐50.8; P = .008), and a prognostic factor for DSS (hazard ratio, 4.41; 95% CI, 1.34‐14.5; P = .02).

Conclusion

The sole predictor of NLM and the prognosis of early tongue SCC was TBG, indicating that it might help to select overwhelming risk patients.

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