AUTHOR=Bernasconi Mischa , Bilic Ante , Kauke-Navarro Martin , Safi Ali-Farid 

TITLE=Nodal tumor volume as a prognostic factor for oral squamous cell carcinoma—a systematic review

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oral Health

VOLUME=Volume 4 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oral-health/articles/10.3389/froh.2023.1229931

DOI=10.3389/froh.2023.1229931

ISSN=2673-4842

ABSTRACT=Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a complex disease with a high potential for lymph node metastasis and poor survival rates. Accurate nodal staging is crucial for prognostic assessment and treatment planning in OSCC. Recent research has suggested that nodal tumor volume (NTV) may be a more accurate indicator of nodal disease burden than traditional staging methods. However, the prognostic significance of NTV in OSCC remains unclear. This systematic review aims to evaluate the existing evidence on the relationship between NTV and prognosis in OSCC. A comprehensive search of electronic databases was conducted, and studies meeting inclusion criteria were critically appraised and synthesized. Our review identified 23 studies that investigated the prognostic significance of NTV in OSCC. The majority of studies reported that larger NTV was associated with poorer survival outcomes, although the strength of the association varied. The review also identified several areas for future research, including the standardization of NTV measurement and the integration of NTV into the broader landscape of OSCC management. In conclusion, our review suggests that NTV holds promise as a novel prognostic factor in OSCC, but more research is needed to fully elucidate its potential and inform clinical decision-making.This systematic review contributes to the field of head and neck cancer by synthesizing and critically appraising the existing evidence on the prognostic significance of nodal tumor volume (NTV) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The review identified 23 studies that investigated the relationship between NTV and survival outcomes in OSCC. By pooling and analyzing the data from these studies, our review provides a comprehensive evaluation of the evidence on NTV as a prognostic factor in OSCC. Our review suggests that larger NTV is associated with poorer survival outcomes in OSCC, although the strength of the association varied among studies. The review also highlights several areas for future research, including the standardization of NTV measurement and the integration of NTV into clinical decision-making in OSCC. Overall, this systematic review adds to the knowledge base of OSCC management and provides insights into a potentially novel prognostic factor that could inform patient risk stratification and treatment planning.