We studied a consecutive series of 54 cases of lower lip squamous cell carcinoma (LLSCC) in order to identify any variables which might predict the development of lymph node metastases. The cases were divided into 38 tumors without metastases (group I) and 16 tumors with lymph node metastases (group II). The following variables were investigated: tumor size, histologic grading, tumor maximal thickness, perineural infiltration and DNA ploidy, in a group of patients undergoing surgical treatment for LLSCC, and to show which of these might be predictive of the development of lymph node metastases.