Overexpression of CYGB (⩾1.5 × normal) was associated with extracapsular tumour spread in cervical lymph nodes (63% (5 out of 8) vs 21% (6 out of 28), P=0.04, Fisher's exact), greater depth of invasion ⩾20 mm (46% (6 out of 13) vs 22% (5 out of 23), P=0.15, Fishers exact), the presence of cervical lymph node metastases (46% (6 out of 13) vs 22% (5 out of 23), P=0.15, Fisher's exact), the presence of mandibular invasion by tumour (56% (5 out of 9) vs 22% (6 out of 27), P=0.10, Fisher's exact) and an Anneroth score ⩾19 (47% (7 out of 15) vs 13% (2 out of 15), P=0.10, Fisher's exact). The gene discussed is CYGB; the disease is metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes.