Core classification of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas: correlations between morphology, DNA ploidy and HPV infection.

Aims: The study intended to reveal whether HPV infection is reflected by nuclear morphology and DNA cytometry parameters in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC).

Methods: In total, 39 HNSCC were selected for reanalysis by histomorphology applying the core classification, DNA cytometry and HPV detection. For the core classification, HE sections were assessed by a score system to evaluate the nuclear size, the mitosis size, their variabilities and the presence of tripolar or tetrapolar mitoses.