Abstract :
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has a remarkable global incidence and equally daunting mortality
rates. Despite diagnostic and therapeutic advancements, mortality and morbidity rates in patients diagnosed
with oral cancer remain constant. The most fundamental prognostic marker for patients with OSCC
is metastasis to cervical lymph nodes or distant organs. Micrometastasis refers to the microscopic
deposits of malignant cells distinct from the primary lesion. There are several techniques for detection
of micrometastasis including Immunohistochemistry (IHC), Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain
Reaction (RT-PCR) and serial sectioning but certain special stains that are reliable like Modified
Papanicolaou stain and Toluidine can be used on serial sectioned lymph node sections to detect
micrometastasis. Early recognition of micrometastatsis in OSCC especially after surgery is undeniably
advantageous for the patient and aids in modifying the treatment. Micrometastasis being an essential
adverse prognostic factor in oral and oropharyngeal SCC, it becomes the utmost responsibility of the
clinician to inculcate various methods for its detection into future clinical trials and management strategies
for better understanding and outcome of the disease.
Keyword :
Oral Squamous cell carcinoma, Lymph node, Micrometastasis, Immunohistochemistry, Molecular detection.