Comparison of CT scan and MRI Findings in the Assessment of Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background and Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) is the most common head and neck malignancy. To decrease the side effects of treatment and the rate of mortality, careful staging for proper treatment plan is necessary. The purpose of this prospective study was to compare the diagnostic value of two different imaging methods (Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)) in oral SCC and its lymph node metastasis in order to represent a proper treatment plan. In this prospective study, 30 patients with oral SCC approved by histopathology underwent CT-scan and MRI before surgery. The gold standard and the result of the histopathology and surgical procedure were considered. Imaging modalities of each patient were blindly evaluated by two radiologists and an oral-maxillofacial surgeon. The sensitivity and specificity of each imaging modalities were compared for size, depth of the tumor, local infiltration of tumor and cervical lymph node metastasis. Also, the result of histopathology and surgical procedure were studied. In detection of bone invasion, the sensitivity of CT-Scan and MRI was similar (62.5%) but specificity of MRI was higher than CT-Scan (94.4% versus 77.2%), (P=0.125). In detection of muscle infiltration, the sensitivity and specificity were 75% and 86.36% for CT-scan and 71.42% and 82.6% for MRI, respectively. Contrary to expectations, sensitivity and specificity of MRI in detecting bone invasion were higher than CT-Scan, whereas the sensitivity and specificity of CT-Scan in detecting muscle infiltration were higher than MRI.