Evaluating the impact of the degree of extranodal extension on outcomes in locally advanced oral cavity cancer

Abstract

BackgroundEvaluate whether extranodal extension (ENE) extent impacts outcomes in patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC).MethodsFrom an institutional database, patients with OCSCC and pathologic ENE who received adjuvant treatment were included. Surgical slides were reviewed to confirm ENE extent.Multivariable Cox regression was used to relate patient/treatment characteristics with disease‐free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). ENE was analyzed as both a dichotomous and continuous variable.ResultsA total of 113 patients were identified. Between major (>2 mm) versus minor ENE (≤2 mm), there was no significant difference in DFS (HR 1.18, 95%CI 0.72–1.92, p = 0.51) or OS (HR 1.17, 95%CI 0.70–1.96, p = 0.55). There was no significant association between ENE as a continuous variable and DFS (HR 0.97 per mm, 95%CI 0.87–1.4, p = 0.96) or OS (HR 0.96 per mm, 95%CI 0.83–1.11, p = 0.58).ConclusionNo significant relationship was seen between ENE extent and DFS or OS in individuals with OCSCC.