MRI-derived tumor thickness: an important predictor of outcome for T4a-staged tongue carcinoma

Can High-Frequency Intraoral Ultrasound Predict Histological Risk Factors in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma? A Preliminary Experience

Despite advancements in multidisciplinary care, oncologic outcomes of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) have not substantially improved: still, one-third of patients affected by stage I and II can develop locoregional recurrences. Imaging plays a pivotal role in preoperative staging of OSCC, providing depth of invasion (DOI) measurements. However, locoregional recurrences have a strong association with adverse histopathological factors not included in the staging system, and any imaging features linked to them have been lacking. In this study, the possibility to predict histological risk factors in OSCC with high-frequency intraoral ultrasonography (IOUS) was evaluated. Thirty-four patients were enrolled. The agreement between ultrasonographic and pathological DOI was evaluated, and ultrasonographic margins' appearance was compared to the Brandwein-Gensler score and the worst pattern of invasion (WPOI). Excellent agreement between ultrasonographic and pathological DOI was found (mean difference: 0.2 mm). A significant relationship was found between ultrasonographic morphology of the front of infiltration and both Brandwein-Gensler score ≥ 3 (p < 0.0001) and WPOI ≥4 (p = 0.0001). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for the IOUS to predict a Brandwein-Gensler score ≥3 were 93.33%, 89.47%, 87.50%, and 94.44%, respectively. The present study demonstrated the promising role of IOUS in aiding risk stratification for OSCC patients.

Correlation between radiologic depth of invasion and pathologic depth of invasion in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

To comprehensively assess the correlation between radiologic depth of invasion (rDOI) and pathologic depth of invasion (pDOI) in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) by meta-analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PubMed and Embase databases were searched to find pertinent articles reporting rDOI of OSCC. Studies evaluating the correlations and mean differences (MDs) between rDOI and pDOI were included. The rDOI was measured based on ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The correlation coefficients and MDs between rDOI and pDOI were meta-analytically pooled. Between-study heterogeneity was assessed using Higgins' inconsistency index (I²). Subgroup analysis was performed based on imaging modality.

RESULTS

Twenty-three studies with 1787 patients were included. The pooled correlation coefficient and MD were 0.86 (95 % confidence interval [CI], 0.82-0.90; I² = 66.9 %) and 1.84 mm (95 % CI, 1.02-2.65 mm; I² = 88.2 %), respectively. In subgroup analysis, MRI showed the largest MD (n = 12, 2.61 mm), followed by US (n = 2, -0.41 mm) and CT (n = 2, 0.12 mm). US showed the highest correlation coefficient (n = 3, 0.91), followed by MRI (n = 12, 0.85) and CT (n = 3, 0.82).

CONCLUSION

rDOI measured by US, CT, and MRI demonstrated excellent correlations with pDOI.

Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in correlation with tongue cancer stages

BACKGROUND

Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) plays a significant role in tumor stage as it can be used to measure tissue perfusion and permeability of tumors.

PURPOSE

To investigate the relationships between both quantitative and semi-quantitative variables obtained from DCE-MRI and tongue cancer stages.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Mean values of K^trans, enhancement ratio (ER), wash-in slope (slope), and the 95th percentile (95%) values of the distribution for K^trans, ER, and slope values (K^trans (95%), ER (95%), and slope (95%), respectively) were calculated for 53 patients with tongue cancers (American Joint Committee on Cancer 8th Edition stage group: 10 in stages I and II, 14 in stage III, 21 in stage IVa, and eight in stage IVb as determined by histopathologic assessment). The relationship between tumor staging and each of the six DCE-MRI parameters was assessed separately using ordinal logistic regression.

RESULTS

The logistic regression analysis revealed that both mean and 95th percentile values of K^trans were significantly and positively correlated with tongue cancer stage (P < 0.01). More aggressive tumor stages had larger kinetic parameter. Moreover, the semi-quantitative parameters, such as ER (95%) and slope (95%), may be more significant predictors for evaluating tongue cancer stages than the mean ER and mean slope.

CONCLUSION

Both quantitative and semi-quantitative imaging biomarkers are useful for evaluating the stages of tongue cancer, and the indices obtained from DCE-MRI were positively correlated with the tumor stages. These parameters have the potential to non-invasively evaluate the stages of tongue cancer in the clinical setting.

Magnetic Resonance vs. Intraoral Ultrasonography in the Preoperative Assessment of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Preoperative assessment is critical to decide the most adequate surgical strategy for oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Magnetic resonance (MR) and intraoral ultrasonography (US) have been reported to be of great value for preoperative estimation of depth of invasion (DOI) and/or tumor thickness (TT). This review aims to analyze the accuracy of MR and intraoral US in determining DOI/TT in oral SCC, by assuming histological evaluation as the reference method.

Methods: The procedure was conducted following the modified 2009 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. We performed a systematic search of papers on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases until July 31st, 2019. For quantitative synthesis, we included nine studies (487 patients) focused on MR, and 12 (520 patients) focused on intraoral US. The Pearson correlation coefficient (r) between DOI/TT evaluated with MR or intraoral US was assumed as effect size. A meta-analysis (MA) for each study group (MR and US) was performed by using the random-effects models with the DerSimonian–Laird estimator and r-to-z transformation.

Results: In the MA for MR studies, a high heterogeneity was found (I² = 94.84%; Q = 154.915, P < 0.001). No significant risk of bias occurred by evaluating funnel plot asymmetry (P = 0.563). The pooled (overall) r of the MR studies was 0.87 (95% CI from 0.82 to 0.92), whereas the pooled r-to-z transformed was 1.44 (95% CI from 1.02 to 1.85). In the MA for US studies a high heterogeneity was found (I² = 93.56%; Q = 170.884, P < 0.001). However, no significant risk of bias occurred (P = 0.779). The pooled r of the US studies was 0.96 (95% CI from 0.94 to 0.97), whereas the pooled r-to-z transformed was 1.76 (95% CI from 1.39 to 2.13). These outputs were confirmed in additional MA performed by enrolling only MR (n = 8) and US (n = 11) studies that evaluated TT.

Conclusions: MR and intraoral US seem to be promising approaches for preoperative assessment of DOI/TT in oral SCC. Remarkably, a higher pooled r and r-to-z transformed were observed in the intraoral US studies, suggesting that this approach could be more closely related to histopathological findings.

"Deep Extrinsic Muscle Involvement" Is a Fallacy in the American Joint Committee on Cancer's Seventh Edition of Tumor Staging of Oral Cavity Cancers

PURPOSE

The seventh edition of tumor staging by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) includes extrinsic muscle involvement to define stage T4a tongue carcinomas. The anatomic location of extrinsic muscles predisposes them to early involvement even in superficial tumors. The purpose of this study was to expose a fallacy in this staging system for extrinsic muscle involvement.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a prospective cohort study of 87 patients with oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters were 1) the distance of the extrinsic muscles from the surface measured on the normal side in millimeters (range, mean, and standard deviation); 2) maximum transverse, craniocaudal, and anteroposterior tumor dimensions (range, mean, and standard deviation); and 3) tumor involvement of the muscles recorded on the involved side for the number and percentage of each muscle involved. Histopathologic depth of invasion also was recorded.

RESULTS

Sixty-seven patients were men and 20 were women (age range, 18 to 74 yr; mean age, 51 yr). The mean distances of the most superficial part of the muscle to the normal surface at MRI for the genioglossus (anteroventral), hyoglossus, and styloglossus were 3.98, 2.13 and 0.66 mm, respectively. The patterns of extrinsic muscle involvement showed hyoglossus, styloglossus, and genioglossus involvement in 79 (90.8%), 58 (66.76%), and 31 (35.6%), respectively. In patients with a pathologic depth of invasion shallower than 10 mm, involvement of the hyoglossus, styloglossus, and genioglossus was seen in 80, 35, and 15%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The extrinsic muscles of the tongue are not deep. Even superficial thin tumors can involve these muscles. The eighth edition of tumor staging by the AJCC, which includes tumor thickness in the staging system, is in the process of being implemented. The present study justifies the removal of extrinsic muscle involvement in defining stage T4 of the oral cavity.

Early death among head and neck cancer patients

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Management of advanced head and neck cancer (HNC) is characterized by high mortality. Furthermore, the treatment involves significant burden to patients and high costs to healthcare systems. Recognizing the risks of early death in patients with a high probability of noncurable disease is important for each individual treatment decision-making. It is thus critical to consider the benefits and side-effects of the planned treatment in relation to the expected survival and to discuss these factors with the patient. However, only few studies have documented early death in HNC patients, that is, during the first posttreatment 6 months. We performed a systematic literature review to find the incidence of this phenomenon and to outline the probable cause.

RECENT FINDINGS

Early mortality in patients with HNC can be explained either by direct effect of malignant disease, may be related to comorbidities, or secondary to the treatment. These factors act together resulting in expected or unexpected early death.

SUMMARY

The present review provides information on the mechanisms leading to early phase mortality (<6 months) after management of HNC. It also reports the incidence of this phenomenon among Finnish and Swedish patient populations.

Application value of MRI combined with positron emission tomography (PET)/CT in diagnosis and preoperative staging of tongue squamous cell carcinoma

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed to compare and analyse the findings of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) on MRI and positron emission tomography (PET)/CT and explore the diagnostic utility of combined MRI-PET/CT in the diagnosis and preoperative staging of TSCC.

METHODS

A prospective analysis of MRI and PET/CT data in 18 TSCC cases was performed. Cases were comprehensively staged on MRI and PET/CT preoperatively according to American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging criteria and confirmed by pathological results.

RESULTS

The highest and lowest sensitivities of preoperative AJCC staging I-IV using MRI alone, PET/CT alone and combined MRI-PET/CT were 100.0%, 100.0% and 100.0% (stage II) and 50.4%, 55.6% and 55.6% (stage I), respectively. The highest specificities were 100.0%, 100.0% and 100.0% (stage II), and the highest correct rates were 100.0%, 96.5% and 100.0% (stage II). Compared with the postoperative pathological staging, preoperative staging showed no significant difference for stages I-II and IV (P > 0.05); however, stage III showed a significant difference (P < 0.05). When combined MRI-PET/CT was compared with MRI alone in the accuracy of preoperative TSCC staging, there was no significant difference for stages I-III (P > 0.05), but there was a significant difference for stage IV (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Combined MRI and PET/CT could serve as an important tool for the accurate diagnosis and preoperative staging of TSCC and could improve the accuracy of preoperative TSCC staging.

Is it time to incorporate 'depth of infiltration' in the T staging of oral tongue and floor of mouth cancer?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To summarize recent acquisitions in three-dimensional tongue and floor of mouth anatomy that can help in better evaluation of the pathways of cancer progression within these oral subsites, thus giving some hints for refining of the current TNM staging system.

RECENT FINDINGS

The Visual Human Project is an initiative aimed at establishing a three-dimensional dataset of anatomy of two cadavers made available free to the scientific community. Visual human data have been analyzed by specific software thus improving our three-dimensional understanding of the tongue myostructure. It is already known that there is limited prognostic utility in using the two-dimensional surface diameter alone as criterion for T1-T3 definition. Recently, also the T4a categorization for the infiltration of 'deep' or extrinsic tongue muscles has been criticized. This is largely because the descriptor 'deep' does not take into account the fact that considerable portions of these muscles lie in a very superficial plane. Different prognosticators have been proposed for inclusion into the TNM staging system of oral cancer but 'depth of tumor infiltration' seems to be the most robust, universally recognized, and reproducible in the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative settings.

SUMMARY

Oral tongue and floor of mouth cancer needs to be classified according to a revised TNM staging system in which 'depth of infiltration' should be taken into account. An 'ideal cut off' for distinguishing 'low' (T1-T2) from 'high-risk' (T3-T4) categories has been proposed based on the literature review, but needs retrospective as well as large prospective trials before its validation.