Clinical significance of preoperative serum C-reactive protein in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

C-reactive protein (CRP) is an index of systemic inflammation. However, CRP is not usually assessed preoperatively. Hence the study intended to evaluate the preoperative serum CRP levels in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients and to analyse its relationship with the clinicopathologic characteristics. CRP values for 60 OSCCs and 30 healthy controls were evaluated using a CRP assessment kit and spectrophotometer. The Mann-Whitney U test, χ2 test, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and logistic regression were applied. The CRP ranged from 0.3 to 86mg/L in OSCCs. CRP was significantly higher in OSCCs than in controls. A raised CRP was seen in 70% of OSCCs. CRP in OSCCs was associated with clinical nodal status and lymph node metastasis (LNM) (P<0.05). CRP was significantly higher in the metastatic than in the non-metastatic group. The area under the ROC was 0.819. The best cut-off value for predicting LNM was 8.65mg/L for the CRP with 0.767 sensitivity and 0.767 specificity (P<0.05). The cut-off revealed a significant association with LNM. Raised CRP may predict LNM. The CRP levels regressed significantly in relation to LNM. CRP could offer prognostic information beyond staging and histology. Hence, CRP can be added as an extension to known clinicopathologic parameters to predict the prognosis in OSCCs.

Serum lipid profile in oral squamous cell carcinoma: alterations and association with some clinicopathological parameters and tobacco use.

Hypocholesterolemia has been observed in patients with cancers of various organs; however the potential role of alterations in serum lipid profile in oral cancer remains controversial. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the serum lipid profile in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and its prognostic significance. Ninety untreated OSCC patients, who reported to the craniofacial unit for treatment between 2011 and 2014, were identified to obtain clinicopathological data and preoperative blood investigations including lipid profile. The fasting blood lipid profile, including total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL), and low density lipoprotein (LDL), was evaluated using a fully automated biochemistry analyser. Data were analyzed statistically using the Student's t-test, analysis of variance, and post hoc tests. Statistically significant decreases in serum TC, HDL, and LDL levels were observed in OSCC patients as compared to healthy controls (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in mean lipid profile values in terms of stage, grade, or lymph node metastasis. This study identified changes in lipid profiles in OSCC. The results suggest that during the development and progression of OSCC, levels of serum lipids are decreased. A review of the literature confirmed that OSCC patients exhibit aberrant serum lipid patterns.

Carcinoma of buccal mucosa: A site specific clinical audit.

BACKGROUND: Carcinoma of buccal mucosa is the most common cancer of the oral cavity in India. Treatment of oral cancer poses unique reconstructive challenges, owing to the dynamic architecture of the oral cavity. Despite current progress in various treatment modalities, over the past 50 years survival rates have not improved drastically. Although, philosophy on treatment of buccal mucosa carcinoma remains well-established, due to the relative paucity of reported data, retrospective reviews of institutional experiences are of prime importance. This study provides a detailed insight on this site specific cancer of the oral cavity in the Indian population. AIM: The aim of this study is to analyze our experience with the management of carcinoma of buccal mucosa; associated clinical presentation, outcomes and prognostic factors. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A retrospective chart review was performed of all cases of primary buccal mucosa carcinoma treated surgically between years 2008 and 2012 in SDM Craniofacial Unit, Karnataka, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All cases were analyzed based on patient characteristics, clinical presentation, surgical and adjuvant therapy rendered and treatment outcomes. A retrospective chart review was carried out using the hospital's data base for the same. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Kaplan-Meier methods were used for analyzing disease free survival (DFS). Univariate analysis of prognostic factors was performed with log rank test. RESULTS: The significant variables in univariate analysis were: Overall stage, T-stage (T1/T2 vs. T3/T4) and nodal status (N0 vs. N+). We found that staging, tumor size and nodal status were significant prognostic factors for DFS. CONCLUSION: The strong influence of overall disease stage, tumor size, nodal status, final histopathological report and habits of tobacco/betel quid chewing, on prognosis; emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis and prevention of carcinoma of buccal mucosa in the Indian population.

Plasmablastic lymphoma of the oral cavity in immunocompetent patients: report of two cases.

Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, a new entity, the incidence of which is increasing, predominantly in the oral cavity of immunocompromised patients, most of whom are infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); only four cases have been reported in non-HIV-infected patients. This report details two cases of PBL of the oral cavity in immunocompetent patients. In both cases, the tumour manifested as a solitary, firm mandibular swelling with dense infiltration of plasma and blastoid cells in the stroma with strong positivity for CD 138 and negativity for CD 20. The patients received radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which resulted in complete remission of the lesion. This is the only case report of two cases of PBL in the oral cavity in immunocompetent patients in which both patients received treatment and showed complete remission of the lesion.