Protocol for correlation of histological risk assessment/scoring system with a depth of invasion in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Introduction: The commonest type of cancer in the head and neck region is oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) due to its high rates of occurrence and mortality. The early diagnosis of oral cancer gives better prognosis. Brandwein-Gensler criteria predict the early stage of OSCC cases with a high risk of locoregional recurrence.

Objectives: To correlate Brandwein-Gensler criteria and depth of invasion of OSCC with three-year survival.

Methodology: In the study, This study will include 80 random histopathologically-diagnosed cases of OSCC. hematoxylin-eosin (HE)-stained section slides will be used to evaluate, Brandwein and Gensler criteria by three histopathologists in a blinded manner. The depth of invasion assessment will be done from the basement-membrane (BM), in regions where the BM has been lost, as well as from an illustrative line connecting the BM from the neighbouring epithelium to the point of deepest tumour invasion in the connective-tissue stroma with the help of a research microscope (Leica-DMLB2) in resected tissue specimens of OSCC cases.

Expected Results: The present study will find the correlation between Brandwein-Gensler criteria and depth of invasion in OSCC in order to evaluate the locoregional recurrence in OSCC cases. In high-risk OSCC cases, there may be an increased depth of invasion in resected tissues.

Conclusions: We hypothesized that the correlation between Brandwein-Gensler criteria and depth of invasion can be used as an independent predictor for locoregional recurrence in OSCC.