Quantitative evaluation of consistency of normal mucosa, leukoplakia and squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.

The quantitative differences in consistency of normal mucosa, leukoplakia and squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue were studied. Forty-five patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, 26 with leukoplakia and 80 with normal tongues were examined using an instrument capable of measuring consistency as a function of the load (in grams) needed to displace tongue mucosa by 2.0 mm using a probe 2.0 mm in diameter. The mean value for consistency in tongue carcinoma, leukoplakia and normal tongue was 22.1 +/- 8.0 g, 8.3 +/- 2.0 g and 4.8 +/- 0.7 g, respectively. Differences in consistency among these entities were significant (P < 0.001). Furthermore, consistency in tongue carcinoma was significantly correlated to tumour thickness (r = 0.954, P < 0.001). It was concluded that the consistency in tongue lesions was objectively and quantitatively evaluated by this method, and this technique could measure the thickness of the tumorous lesions preoperatively.