Analysis of Histopathological Parameters of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Bryne's Grading in Different Age Groups

Introduction: Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) commonly seen in 6th to 8th decades of life, when occurring in younger age group under 45 years its prediction and aggression is questioned due to subjective data in literature. Various histopathological grading systems of OSCC have been discussed in the literature, but the reability of such grading systems is controversial. However, Bryne's Invasive tumour front grading system has a high prognostic value since it provides diagnostic and predictive information of OSCC. Aim: To compare the histopathological parameters of OSCC by Bryne's grading in different age groups. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective archive study conducted in the Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, MIDSR Dental College, Latur, Maharashtra, India, from June 2010 to December 2020. Total 90 histopathologically diagnosed cases with OSCC were included in the study. These patients were divided into three groups: Group I included 30 patients below 40 years of age; Group II included 30 patients who were between 41 to 60 years of age; and Group III included 30 patients who were above 60 years of age. Formalin fixed paraffin embedded blocks of OSCC were used to prepare hematoxylin and eosin stained section and graded based on Bryne's invasive tumour front grading system. Chi-square test was applied to evaluate the significant difference among different age groups. Results: Out of 90 cases of OSCC included in the study among different age groups, 70 (77.77%) were males and 20 ( 22.22%) were females. This study found 93.33% (28 patients) in Group III followed by 76.66% ( 23 patients) in Group I and 63.33% (19 patients) in Group II had Score 2 nuclear polymorphism. When the three groups were compared using chi-square test, a p-value of 0.024 was obtained which was found to be a statistically significant in the nuclear polymorphism among different age groups by Bryne's grading. The comparison between other histological parameters of Bryne's grading degree of keratinisation (p-value=0.169), pattern of invasion (p-value=0.422), number of mitosis (p-value=0.107), and lymphoplasmacytic infiltration (p- value=0.252) revealed no significant differences. Conclusion: Outcomes of the study result showed differences in nuclear polymorphism were more obvious among old patients (Group III) when compared to young patients (Group I).