ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To examine the cytokeratin expression in cervical lymph nodes of patients with mandibular gingival squamous cell carcinoma and its clinical significance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The data of 42 cases with mandibular gingival squamous cell carcinoma after operation from July 2009 to December 2012 were included. Forty-two patients (male = 27, formale = 15) were included, with a mean age of 54.1 years (range 27-77). The lesions were staged (stage I:9, stage II:16, stage III:6, stage IV:11). The cervical lymph nodes were examined by immunohistochemistry and HE. The cytokeratin expression in the lymph nodes was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The rates of lymph nodes metastasis detected by routine HE staining, serial sections HE staining and IHC were 8.0% (47/585), 9.6% (56/585) and 12.8% (75/585), respectively. There was significant difference (χ(2) = 7.17, P < 0.01) in the diagnosis of lymph nodes metastasis between IHC and routine HE staining, There was no significant difference between IHC and serial HE staining (χ(2) = 3.10, P > 0.05). Metastasis occurred mainly in the Level I, II and III. Nineteen lymph nodes in 12 patients were found micrometastasis with IHC. Serial sections and routine HE staining did not find micrometastasis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>CK markers is sensitive in detecting lymph node metastasis of mandibular gingival squamous cell carcinoma.</p>