Jia-hua Zhu1, Ji-cheng Luo, Guo-chu Lin. 1. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, School of Stomatology, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200011, China.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To compare the diagnostic values of CT and MRI in estimating the thickness of lingual squamous cell carcinoma, and evaluate the relationship between the thickness of tongue carcinoma on MRI and lymph node metastasis rate. METHODS: 23 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of tongue. All the 23 patients were examined with CT and MRI. The actual thickness of tongue carcinoma was measured after surgery. RESULTS: (1)There was a significant difference between the actual thickness of tongue carcinoma and the thickness shown on CT (P<0.05), and no significant difference between the actual thickness of tongue carcinoma and the thickness shown on MRI (P>0.05). (2)Lymph node metastasis rate was 84.6% when the thickness of tongue carcinoma on MRI was greater than or equal to 2cm, and 10.0% when the thickness of tongue carcinoma on MRI was less than 2cm. There was a significant difference between the two groups of patients. (3)MRI can show the area of the tongue carcinoma clearly without enhancement. It has better resolution than CT. CONCLUSION: (1)MRI is better than CT in estimating the thickness of tongue carcinoma. (2)Thickness of tongue carcinoma on MRI could be employed to estimate the possibility of lymph node metastasis.(3)MRI should be the first choice in the diagnosis of tongue carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the diagnostic values of CT and MRI in estimating the thickness of lingual squamous cell carcinoma, and evaluate the relationship between the thickness of tongue carcinoma on MRI and lymph node metastasis rate. METHODS: 23 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of tongue. All the 23 patients were examined with CT and MRI. The actual thickness of tongue carcinoma was measured after surgery. RESULTS: (1)There was a significant difference between the actual thickness of tongue carcinoma and the thickness shown on CT (P<0.05), and no significant difference between the actual thickness of tongue carcinoma and the thickness shown on MRI (P>0.05). (2)Lymph node metastasis rate was 84.6% when the thickness of tongue carcinoma on MRI was greater than or equal to 2cm, and 10.0% when the thickness of tongue carcinoma on MRI was less than 2cm. There was a significant difference between the two groups of patients. (3)MRI can show the area of the tongue carcinoma clearly without enhancement. It has better resolution than CT. CONCLUSION: (1)MRI is better than CT in estimating the thickness of tongue carcinoma. (2)Thickness of tongue carcinoma on MRI could be employed to estimate the possibility of lymph node metastasis.(3)MRI should be the first choice in the diagnosis of tongue carcinoma.