Correlation of Newly Added Dysplastic Features in the Latest WHO Diagnostic Criteria of Oral Epithelial Dysplasia with Malignant Transformation and Recurrence.

BACKGROUND

Several grading systems are available in the literature for grading oral epithelial dysplasia (OED), with the three-tier system and binary systems being the most commonly employed. However, these systems show variable interobserver agreement. The 2024 World Health Organisation (WHO) added new architectural and cytological features in the diagnostic criteria of OED. The present study was orchestrated to correlate the newly included architectural and cytological features with malignant transformation (MT) and recurrence potential of oral epithelial dysplasia.

METHODOLOGY

After obtaining clearance from the institutional human ethical committee, 163 satisfactory cases of OED were included in the present study. Data about age, gender, site, habits, grading, serial time and event (malignant transformation and recurrence) were recorded. All cases were graded by two observers, using two different grading systems, and interobserver agreement was assessed using Kappa statistics. Malignant transformation and recurrence were correlated with the newly added features using hazard ratios (confidence interval was set at 95%). SPSS software (version 26) was used to do the analysis, and any value of ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

A peak was noted in the fifth decade, with males more commonly affected than females. Buccal mucosa was the most commonly affected site. Kappa values for the three-tier grading system and binary system were 0.761 and 0.666, respectively, suggesting a moderate inter-observer agreement (p value < 0.001). Malignant transformation was significantly associated with expanded proliferative compartment, mitoses in maturing cells, altered keratin pattern in subsites and verrucous/papillary architecture of the epithelium, while mitoses in the maturing cells, basal cell clustering, multifocal or skip lesions, increased nuclear size, and single cell keratinization were significantly associated with recurrence potential of OED.

CONCLUSION

The newly added features in the diagnostic criteria of oral epithelial dysplasia by WHO show prediction of MT and recurrence, and must be individually recorded to provide appropriate personalised treatment.