Rossana Izzetti1, Gualtiero Fantoni2, Francesca Gelli3, Lorenzo Faggioni4, Saverio Vitali4, Mario Gabriele5, Davide Caramella4. 1. Department of Translational Research on New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. rossana.izzetti@med.unipi.it. 2. Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. 3. Esaote S. p. A., Genova, Italy. 4. Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University of Pisa, Via Paradisa 2, 56100, Pisa, Italy. 5. Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The early detection of oral soft tissue lesions is an important prognostic factor, and the possibility of using ultrasonography (US) as a diagnostic tool may improve the diagnosis and characterization of tissue alterations at an early stage. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of intraoral US by performing a preclinical assessment of an ex vivo specimen in which focal lesions were simulated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen lesions were simulated on a freshly extracted calf tongue, by introducing in the tongue different materials mimicking the appearance of various focal lesions. The specimen was scanned with a 8 MHz US probe and computed tomography (CT) was performed to compare the two imaging techniques. Later, the specimen was dissected to set a benchmark for size assessment. RESULTS: US was able to identify all the simulated lesions within the tongue, resulting in one case more accurate than CT. Statistical analysis demonstrated high correlation between the measurements of the simulated lesions performed on the US images and the real size of the materials introduced in the tongue (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This preclinical study proves that US performs well in the detection and characterization of simulated lesions of the tongue. These findings suggest that US could be effectively used in clinical applications. However, further research is mandatory to assess the reliability of in vivo US in the detection and characterization of tongue lesions as well as of other oral soft tissue alterations.
OBJECTIVES: The early detection of oral soft tissue lesions is an important prognostic factor, and the possibility of using ultrasonography (US) as a diagnostic tool may improve the diagnosis and characterization of tissue alterations at an early stage. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of intraoral US by performing a preclinical assessment of an ex vivo specimen in which focal lesions were simulated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen lesions were simulated on a freshly extracted calf tongue, by introducing in the tongue different materials mimicking the appearance of various focal lesions. The specimen was scanned with a 8 MHz US probe and computed tomography (CT) was performed to compare the two imaging techniques. Later, the specimen was dissected to set a benchmark for size assessment. RESULTS: US was able to identify all the simulated lesions within the tongue, resulting in one case more accurate than CT. Statistical analysis demonstrated high correlation between the measurements of the simulated lesions performed on the US images and the real size of the materials introduced in the tongue (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This preclinical study proves that US performs well in the detection and characterization of simulated lesions of the tongue. These findings suggest that US could be effectively used in clinical applications. However, further research is mandatory to assess the reliability of in vivo US in the detection and characterization of tongue lesions as well as of other oral soft tissue alterations.
Authors: A Vidiri; P Ruscito; B Pichi; R Pellini; R Covello; I Sperduti; S Di Giovanni; G Spriano; M Crecco Journal: J Exp Clin Cancer Res Date: 2007-12