The correlation between TNM classification and histological scores of malignancy, and the correlation of these parameters with the prognosis was evaluated in 16 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue. The cases were selected from the files of "Dr. Luiz Antônio" Cancer Hospital, Natal, RN, Brazil. After analysis of the patients' records, the data concerning TNM classification and prognosis (in a 5-year-follow-up) were obtained. All cases were classified according to the histological malignancy grading system proposed by Anneroth et al. [Scand Dent Res 1987;95:229-249]. There was no correlation (r = 0.3083) between TNM classification and histological scores of malignancy. There was significant correlation (r = 0.7206) between TNM classification and prognosis, but there was no correlation between the histological scores of malignancy and the prognosis. It was concluded that TNM classification is an important prognostic indicator of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.

TNM classification, as well as malignancy mean score, had statistically significant correlation with degree of keratinization, nuclear pleomorphism and lymphocytic infiltration. These highly significant results indicated that histologically invasive areas may be primarily responsible for the clinical behavior of the tumor, and this may be important for the therapy of choice for oral squamous cell carcinoma.

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Hi stological staging of deep invasive margin of oral squamous cell carcinoma has a significant influence on survival of patients since the tumor cells are more poorly differentiated in this area and have high prognostic value. Aim: the purpose of the present study is to correlate TNM clinical classification with histopathologic characteristics (degree of keratinization, nuclear pleomorphism, invasion pattern and lymphoplasmocytic infiltrate) and histologic malignancy scores in 38 cases of oral epidermoid carcinoma in the lesion's deepest areas. Study Form: Retrospective clinical study. Material and Method: This is a retrospective study based on histological review of 38 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma selected from the medical files of Hospital Dr. Luis Antonio, Natal -Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. TNM clinical classification data were obtained from the analysis of the medical records. Two pathologists performed histological malignancy staging on routine 3 µm-thick sections of invasive tumor areas stained with hematoxylin and eosin. For statistical analysis, parametric (ANOVA) and non-parametric tests (Tukey; Pearson; Chi 2 ) were employed. Results: We found significant correlation between TNM clinical staging and malignancy mean score (p= 0.001) and histopathologic parameters, such as nuclear pleomorphism (p= 0.016) and degree of keratinization (p= 0.025). Furthermore, there were also statistically significant correlations between lymphocytic infiltration (p= 0.016) and nuclear pleomorphism (p= 0.004) with TNM classification when grouped in two series: TNM I/II and III/IV. Conclusion: TNM classification, as well as malignancy mean score, had statistically significant correlation with degree of keratinization, nuclear pleomorphism and lymphocytic infiltration. These highly significant results indicated that histologically invasive areas may be primarily responsible for the clinical behavior of the tumor, and this may be important for the therapy of choice for oral squamous cell carcinoma.

The aim of the present study was to clinically, morphologically, and immunohistochemically correlate the expression of cytokeratins (CKs) 7, 10, 13, 14, 16, and 19 in 30 cases of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with disease outcome, metastases, clinical stage (tumor, node, metastasis [TNM]), and histological grade of malignancy proposed by Bryne. Statistical analysis (chi2 test) showed that only histological grading was not significantly correlated with the clinical variables. CK expression varied in the samples analyzed. CK 10 expression was significantly correlated with the presence of metastases, and the expression of CK 16 was related to disease outcome and also to TNM stages III and IV. These results indicate that metastases and TNM are effective prognostic indicators. The histological grading proposed by Bryne did not reflect the biological behavior of the tongue SCC cases studied. Analysis of some intermediate CK filaments can reflect the biological behavior and aggressiveness of some tongue SCCs.