The prognostic role of single cell invasion and nuclear diameter in early oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma

Background The clinical significance of single cell invasion and large nuclear diameter is not well documented in early-stage oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC). Methods We used hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections to evaluate the presence of single cell invasion and large nuclei in a multicenter cohort of 311 cases treated for early-stage OTSCC. Results Single cell invasion was associated in multivariable analysis with poor disease-specific survival (DSS) with a hazard ratio (HR) of 2.089 (95% CI 1.224–3.566, P = 0.007), as well as with disease-free survival (DFS) with a HR of 1.666 (95% CI 1.080–2.571, P = 0.021). Furthermore, large nuclei were associated with worse DSS (HR 2.070, 95% CI 1.216–3.523, P = 0.007) and with DFS in multivariable analysis (HR 1.645, 95% CI 1.067–2.538, P = 0.024). Conclusion Single cell invasion and large nuclei can be utilized for classifying early OTSCC into risk groups.