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Comparative Study
. 2024 Jun;66(6):907-917.
doi: 10.1007/s00234-024-03345-8. Epub 2024 Apr 12.

Prognostic value of radiological T category using conventional MRI in patients with oral tongue cancer: comparison with pathological T category

Masaya Kawaguchi  1 , Hiroki Kato  2 , Tomohiro Kanayama  3 , Hiroyuki Tomita  3 , Akira Hara  3 , Hirofumi Shibata  4 , Takenori Ogawa  4 , Daijiro Hatakeyama  5 , Yoichi Yamada  5 , Tomohiro Ando  2 , Yoshifumi Noda  2 , Fuminori Hyodo  2   6 , Masayuki Matsuo  2
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Prognostic value of radiological T category using conventional MRI in patients with oral tongue cancer: comparison with pathological T category

Masaya Kawaguchi et al. Neuroradiology. 2024 Jun.

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the radiological tumor (T)-category using multiparametric MRI with the pathological T category in patients with oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) and to examine which is a better predictor of prognosis.

Methods: This retrospective study included 110 consecutive patients with surgically resected primary OTSCC who underwent preoperative contrast-enhanced MRI. T categories determined by maximum diameter and depth of invasion were retrospectively assessed based on the pathological specimen and multiparametric MRI. The MRI assessment included the axial and coronal T1-weighted image (T1WI), axial T2-weighted image (T2WI), coronal fat-suppressed T2WI, and axial and coronal fat-suppressed contrast-enhanced T1WI (CET1WI). Axial and coronal CET1WI measurements were divided into two groups: measurements excluding peritumoral enhancement (MEP) and measurements including peritumoral enhancement. The prognostic values for recurrence and disease-specific survival after radiological and pathological T categorization of cases into T1/T2 and T3/T4 groups were compared.

Results: The T category of MEP on coronal CET1WI was the most relevant prognostic factor for recurrence [hazard ratio (HR) = 3.30, p = 0.001] and the HR was higher than the HR for pathological assessment (HR = 2.26, p = 0.026). The T category determined by MEP on coronal CET1WI was also the most relevant prognostic factor for disease-specific survival (HR = 3.12, p = 0.03), and the HR was higher than the HR for pathological assessment (HR = 2.02, p = 0.20).

Conclusion: The T category determined by MEP on the coronal CET1WI was the best prognostic factor among all radiological and pathological T category measurements.

Keywords: MRI; Oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma; Peritumoral enhancement; Prognosis; Tumor staging.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
a Axial fat-suppressed contrast-enhanced T1-weighted image shows the measurement of the maximum diameter determined by MEP (solid line) and MIP (dotted line). b Coronal fat-suppressed contrast-enhanced T1-weighted image shows the measurement of the depth of invasion determined by MEP (solid line) and MIP (dotted line). Right submandibular nodal metastasis is shown (arrow). c Histological specimen (H&E stain; scale bar, 5 mm) shows tongue cancer in the central areas (star) and inflammation, vascular enlargement, or edema in the peripheral areas (asterisk)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Prognostic impact in patients with OTSCC. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis for recurrence-free survival (T1/T2 vs. T3/T4). The T categories are measured by a pathology, b coronal CET1WI-MEP, and c coronal CET1WI-MIP
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Prognostic impact in patients with OTSCC. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis for disease-specific survival (T1/T2 vs. T3/T4). The T categories are measured by a pathology, b coronal CET1WI-MEP, and c coronal CET1WI-MIP
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