In view of the limited evidence available in this respect for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), the aim of this study was to evaluate further the morphological distribution and prognostic impact of regulatory T-cells (FoxP3+), various T-cell subsets (CD3+, CD8+, GranzymeB+), and macrophages (CD68+) in four different tumour-related compartments, i.e. primary tumour, lymph node metastases, peritumoural area in metastatic lymph nodes and uninvolved draining lymph nodes of head and neck cancer patients. This evidence concerns the gene CD68 and neoplasm.