الفهرس 
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Abstract
Oral SCC is the most common malignant tumor of the oral cavity (90%). The tongue represents the most common site of development of oral SCC. Smoking represents the most important risk factor for development of oral SCC. It is more common in males than females and more common in older ages. The aim of the present work was to find a significant relation between preoperative serum CRP levels and postoperative LND.
The present prospective study was conducted upon 25 patients diagnosed as oral SCC in head and neck surgical department in Alexandria main university hospital by excisional biopsy from suspicious intra oral lesion either under local or general anesthesia.
All patients were subjected to full history taking, physical examination, full preoperative lab work (including serum CRP levels) , appropriate imaging techniques, appropriate surgical techniques and postoperative histopathological assessment (including LND).
Smokers represented 72% of the study group. Males represented 52%. The mean age was 51 years. The mean size of the primary tumor on MRI assessment was 3cm. Neck ultrasound showed superior sensitivity upon physical examination for assessment of cervical lymph node metastasis.
Preoperative serum CRP levels showed a significant relation with postoperative histopathological assessment either LND or final histopathological diagnosis. Postoperative LND showed a significant relation with the size of the primary tumor and the final histopathological diagnosis.
Larger studies with longer durations of follow up are required for better assessment of the prognostic value of LND in oral SCC. Also the combination of preoperative serum CRP levels and other tumor specific antigens like SCC antigen adds more specificity to the role of CRP as a prognostic index.