Tumour Budding as a Predictor of Lymph Node Metastasis in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Retrospective Histopathological Study

Background

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is associated with cervical lymph node metastasis, which influences treatment planning and prognosis. Tumour budding, defined as the presence of isolated tumour cells or small clusters at the invasive front, has emerged as a potential histopathological marker of aggressive tumour behaviour. This study evaluated the association between tumour budding and lymph node metastasis in OSCC.