MR imaging of lingual carcinoma: comparison with surgical staging

The purpose of this study was to determine the usefulness of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for the preoperative staging of 18 patients with lingual carcinomas. Tumor stage as determined by MR imaging was compared with pathological stage. Conspicuity of tumors was compared among dynamic MR, T2-weighted, and postcontrast T1-weighted images. The tumor stage was evaluated correctly with MR imaging in 15/18 patients (83.3%). One patient was overstaged and two understaged due to incorrect diagnosis of size. In all T4 cases, tumor extension was diagnosed correctly. Dynamic MR and T2-weighted images were superior to postcontrast T1-weighted images in delineating and showing the extension of carcinomas. However, dynamic MR imaging showed no significant superiority to T2-weighted imaging. We conclude that MR imaging is of great value in the staging of lingual carcinoma. Dynamic study should be performed only when the lesion is undetectable or equivocal on T2-weighted imaging.