Paralingual and sublingual space invasion in magnetic resonance imaging of squamous cell carcinoma of anterior two-thirds of tongue: Is there a prognostic significance? A prospective evaluation.

BACKGROUND

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in tumors of anterior two-thirds of tongue has a significant role in assessing different tumor parameters, and in prognosticating.

AIM

This prospective study conducted in a tertiary cancer care center, focused on patients with squamous cell carcinoma of anterior two-thirds of tongue. The significance of invasion of paralingual and sublingual spaces in relation to the pathological grade of these tumors, and its predictive value in pathological nodal involvement were analyzed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All consecutive patients with the required inclusion criteria were accrued. Imaging was done with 3 Tesla MRI and invasion of sublingual and paralingual spaces were accurately assessed. Data elucidated were tabulated and analysed using IBM SPSS version 20.0. Chi-square test, nonparametric correlation using Spearman's Rho correlation, and two-independent sample test using Mann-Whitney's U-test were used to arrive at correlations between the imaging and histopathological parameters.

RESULTS

Sixty-three patients were analyzed. Mean age was 52.3 ± 11.45 years. 74.6% were males. MRI showed sublingual space invasion in 47.6%. 18/28 with and 11/33 without invasion had node positivity. Paralingual space involvement was observed in 31.7% of patients. Thirteen of these and 16/43 with no involvement had positive cervical nodes. No statistically significant correlation was observed.

CONCLUSION

This prospective study did not establish any statistically sound correlation, and robust data are lacking to support newer parameters such as sublingual space and paralingual space as probable predictors of cervical nodal involvement, and for prognostication.