Evaluation of tumor extension in tongue cancer by ultrasound

Comparison of ultrasound images and histological findings in living and fresh material

Abstract

Precise surgical resection of tongue cancer requires information about the area of tumor extension preoperatively. Tongue cancer was measured in vivo and in fresh surgical specimens using ultrasonography. There was no difference in the extension of the tumor between the two on ultrasonography. However, there was a significant difference in the extension of the tongue cancer between the in vivo ultrasonogram and the pathological specimen (p < 0.05). However, the extension of the tumor on the in vivo ultrasonogram was significantly correlated with the extension on histological examination of specimens stained with hematoxylin and eosin (p < 0.01). Furthermore, on regression analysis, the extension of the tumor on histological examination could be predicted precisely from the in vivo ultrasonogram (R-square, 0.52-0.88). Thus, ultrasonic examination to determine tumor extension appears to be helpful as a preoperative examination to plan surgery in patients with tongue cancer.