PRETREATMENT PATHOLOGICAL PROGNOSTIC FACTORS IN HEAD AND NECK SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA

Squamous carcinomas of the head and neck region are a common problem f or the otolaryngologist; surgeons are obliged to draw together dispara te lines of evidence - from physical examination, pathology, and radio logy - to plan optimal therapy for their patients. This article explor es some of the ways in which pathologic analysis of a biopsy specimen in the past (determination of extent of invasion and degree of differe ntiation), present (including an analysis of the pattern of infiltrati on and the tumor's DNA content), and, perhaps, the future (possibiliti es including cytogenetics and analysis of discrete steps in the cell c ycle) plays a role in this process.