Worst pattern of invasion - type 4 (WPOI-4) and Lymphocyte host response should be mandatory reporting criteria for oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma: A re-look at the American Joint Committee of Cancer (AJCC) minimum dataset.

BACKGROUND: A proportion of early-stage node-negative oral squamous carcinoma patients fail despite complete surgical resection. Adjuvant treatment in early oral cancer is controversial and is often individualized based on stage, depth, and margin status. AIMS: We reviewed various histological markers in pT1/T2N0 cases, resected upfront with elective nodal dissection, with an emphasis on tumor-tissue interface characteristics of the worst pattern of invasion (WPOI), tumor cell nest size (sCNS), budding and lymphocytic host response (LHR), to assess their prognostic significance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Archived blocks of 95 cases were reviewed. Tumor stage, grade, size, depth of invasion, lymphovascular, and perineural invasion, WPOI, LHR, sCNS, and tumor bud (single cells or <5 cell clusters) score were recorded. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Prognostic significance was statistically analyzed using SPSS software version 20. RESULTS: Depth of invasion (P = 0.008), WPOI- 4 and 5 (P = 0.033), sCNS (<5 cells) at tumor interface (P = 0.010), high bud count (≥3 buds/40 × hpf) (P = 0.021) and poor LHR (P = 0.019) correlated significantly with poor disease-free survival on univariate analysis. However, on multivariate analysis only LHR and WPOI-4 (that is presence of small cell nests or buds) were significant, with high hazard ratio of 4.351 (95% CI 1.290-14.676, P = 0.018) and 5.019 (95% CI 1.212-20.789, P = 0.026), respectively. CONCLUSION: We propose mandatory reporting of WPOI-4 at the tumor interface and absence of LHR, as significant markers of poor prognosis in early-stage oral cavity squamous carcinoma.

Practical Challenges in Measurement of Depth of Invasion in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Pictographical Documentation to Improve Consistency of Reporting per the AJCC 8th Edition Recommendations.

Depth of invasion (DOI) and tumour thickness (TT) are known prognostic indicators in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), but varying definitions have been used by pathologists for reporting. The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) has proposed adoption of a uniform definition of DOI and incorporated this measurement in the revised TNM staging (8th edition); however, unambiguous DOI determination can be a challenge in clinical practice. We reviewed archived slides of 95 cases of T1/T2N0 OSCC and listed the challenges in accurate DOI measurement with pictographical documentation. The impacts of DOI and TT on disease-free survival (DFS) were also assessed. The mean DOI and TT was 5.89 mm and 7.32 mm respectively. Challenge in horizon estimation for DOI measurement was experienced in 75/95 cases (78.9%). The most common challenges were lack of adjacent uninvolved mucosa in sections or presence only on one side, rounded/convoluted nature of the tumour surface for tongue and polypoidal tumours, and angulation of adjacent mucosa for alveolar or lip tumours. In cases with very thin epithelium, DOI was equal to TT. In spite of the challenges, Kaplan-Meier analysis showed DOI > 5 mm significantly predicted poorer DFS while TT did not. We recommend various guidelines to help improve consistency in measuring DOI and recording of TT in ambiguous cases for accurate staging of OSCC.

Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis and renal tubulopapillary adenomas: A rare coexistence.

Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis is an uncommon inflammatory condition accounting for 1% of chronic pyelonephritis cases. Clinically and radiologically it mimics other renal space occupying lesions. Hence, correct preoperative diagnosis is not possible in all cases and nephrectomy is done in most patients. Renal tubulopapillary adenomas are benign epithelial lesions of kidney found to be associated with papillary renal cell carcinoma, acquired renal cystic disease, long term hemodialysis, arteriosclerotic renal vascular disease, etc. Here, we report two cases of Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis associated with the rare finding of renal tubulopapillary adenomas.