Role of MRI in Assessment of Malignant Lesions of Tongue and Oral Cavity

Abstract

Background: In India, oral squamous cell carcinomas are among the top three cancer forms. Its diagnosis is primarily clinical, although preoperative imaging is important for tumour staging and depth of invasion. In order to determine the best course of treatment for an oral cancer patient, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has emerged as the gold standard. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on 50 patients with oral cavity malignancies, and who were referred for MRI for preoperative assessment. Post-surgical assessment of the lesions and nodal metastases was done using histopathological examination. Results: Out of the 50 patients with malignancy, 52% had tongue involvement followed by buccal mucosa involvement. There was a moderate to substantial correlation in the T staging (k=0.61) and N (k=0.75) staging between MRI and histopathological examination. Mean depth of invasion measured by MRI and histology was 1.47 and 1.49 respectively, with a significant correlation (p<0.001). Conclusion: MRI has been demonstrated to be the imaging technique of choice for determining the T and N stages of oral carcinomas. It is also capable of assessing the depth of invasion precisely, which is essential for optimizing therapy options.