Prognostic Significance of Lymph-Node Ratio in Patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic significance of
lymph node ratio (LNR) in patients diagnosed with oral squamous cell
carcinoma (OSCC).
Methods: This retrospective study included 82 patients with oral squamous cell
carcinoma (OSCC) with positive nodal disease, who underwent surgical
treatment for primary OSCC & received adjuvant treatment at the Clinical
Oncology & Nuclear Medicine Department, Mansoura University Hospital,
between January 2010 and June 2022. Patients' data were analyzed using log-
rank statistic, univariate and multivariate data analyzes, and p values, for
prediction of significance of lymph node ratio on overall and disease-free
survival.
Results: Prognostic thresholds were determined at a cutoff value of 0.073% for
LNR. LNR < 0.073 was a significant predictor of longer OS. LNR <0.073 was a
significant predictor of longer OS (72 months vs 14 months in those with LNR
< 0.073), while patients with LNR whether < 0.073 or ≥ 0.073 demonstrated
nearly the same median DFS (39 months vs 37 months, respectively).
Multivariate analysis revealed that lymph node ratio (LNR), neck dissection,
lymphovascular embolization (LVE), perineural invasion and adjuvant
treatment were confirmed as independent prognostic factors for OS.
Conclusion: Lymph node ratio (LNR) is a prognostic factor for survival in
patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), who underwent surgical
treatment for primary OSCC.