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Landmark 4326
Landmark 4326
1
Department of Radiology, The Forth Hospital in Jinan, Jinan, China; 2Department of AnestheSiology
the Forth Hospital in Jinan, Jinan, China
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Abstract
2. Introduction
3. Benign tongue tumor
4. Malignant tongue tumor
5. MRI in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant tongue tumors
5.1. MRI in tumor diagnosis
5.2. Dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI in differential diagnosis of tongue tumor
5.3. Diffusion-weighted (DW) MRI in differential diagnosis of tongue tumor
6. Summary and conclusion
7. References
1. ABSTRACT
The differential diagnosis of benign and malignancies (>95%) are squamous cell carcinomas
malignant tongue tumors is crucial to treatment and (SCC) (4,5). There has been an increase in the
prognosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is incidence of tongue SCC and associated mortality
the preferred modality for the evaluation of tongue over recent decades in both Europe and the United
carcinomas. Dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)- States (5-7). In spite of advances in cancer therapy,
MRI can reflect the density, integrity, and leakiness the 5-year survival rate of tongue SCC patients has
of tumor vasculature, and the time-intensity curve remained relatively constant at approximately 50%
(TIC) patterns derived from DCE-MRI results can in developed countries since the early 1970s (4,5).
differentiate benign from malignant tumors based on The tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage at which
differences in vascular structure. Diffusion-weighted the disease is diagnosed is the single most important
(DW)-MRI is based on the random thermal motion of predictor of survival (4). Thus, early diagnosis of
water molecules and can provide information on the tongue tumors, especially differential diagnosis
cellular and tissue microstructure of the tumor. A low of malignant from benign tumors, is crucial for
apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) derived from treatment and prognosis.
DW-MRIs may indicate a malignant tumor. Thus, ADC
values and TIC parameters yield complementary Pathological biopsy is a minimally invasive
information on tumors that may improve diagnostic procedure used for preoperative diagnosis of tongue
accuracy. Indeed, the combination of DCE-MRI tumors. However, poor biopsy specimens are
and DW-MRI is a comprehensive reflection of the sometimes obtained and the pathology results are
pathological status of the tongue tumor, so utilization not always conclusive (8). Therefore, preoperative
of these MRI modalities may facilitate the diagnostic imaging plays an important role in treatment selection
differentiation of benign from malignant tumors of the and surgical planning. Static magnetic resonance
tongue. imaging (MRI) has been used extensively for the
diagnosis of tumors of the oral and maxillofacial
2. INTRODUCTION region, and is the preferred method to examine tongue
tumors because the abnormal signals on MRI are well
Tongue cancer is the most common intra- correlated with pathological findings (9). In addition,
oral malignancy. It accounts for nearly 30% of sagittal MR images can show manifestations of
all oral cancers and is usually seen in men aged tongue base involvement and pharyngeal infiltration
50–60 years old (1-3). The vast majority of tongue range that cannot be seen on CT.
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MRI in differentiation of benign and malignant tongue tumors
Figure 1. The histopathological types of malignant tongue tumors. The most common type of malignant tongue tumor is squamous cell
carcinoma, less types are lymphoepithelial carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Kaposi’s sarcoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, lymphangioma,
Burkitt’s lymphoma, and malignant melanoma also account for tongue tumors, while they are all statistically uncommon.
615 © 1996-2015
MRI in differentiation of benign and malignant tongue tumors
Figure 2. Parameters affect image patterns on DCE-MRI (dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging). Image patterns on
DCE-MRI are influenced by a large number of pathophysiologic variables, including microvessel density, blood flow, endothelial permeability,
cellularity-stromal grade, and the availability of an extracellular compartment. Microvessel density and blood flow are closely related to
the contrast index at maximum enhancement (CImax), the time to CImax (Tpeak-the time to reach CImax) and the slope. The endothelial
permeability, cellularity-stromal grade, and availability of an extracellular compartment correlate with the washout ratio (WT) of contrast agents.
homogeneity is not a useful criterion to distinguish permeability, cellularity-stromal grade, and the
between benign and malignant tumors (19). Static availability of an extracellular compartment (21).
MRI cannot distinguish between inflammatory Microvessel density and blood flow are closely related
disease and malignancy in some cases (18, 20). to the contrast index at maximum enhancement
(CImax), the time to CImax (Tpeak-the time to reach
5.2. Dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)- CImax) and the slope (24). The endothelial
MRI for the differential diagnosis of tongue permeability, cellularity-stromal grade, and
availability of an extracellular compartment correlate
tumors
with the washout ratio (WT) of contrast agents
Dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI is
(figure2). An extracellular compartment with fibrous
an imaging modality that uses paramagnetic contrast
stromata retains contrast agents for a longer time
enhancing agents to reveal the density, integrity, and
period (24, 27). Malignant tumors are generally
leakiness of tumor vasculature. The parameters associated with increased microvessel density, high
calculated from DCE-MRI are also used to assess vascularity, and cellularity. Therefore, rapid wash-in
the histological properties of the tumor (21). Many of contrast agents (as reflected by the slope and
investigators have therefore attempted to identify Tpeak) with substantial peak contrast enhancement
the difference between benign and malignant (CImax) and persistent plateau on DCE-MRI may be
tumors by vascular imaging in addition to grading more indicative of malignancy.
the malignancy of tumors using DCE-MRI (22-26).
Time-intensity curve (TIC) parameters
Image patterns on DCE-MRI are influenced and vascular patterns derived from DCE-MRI
by a large number of pathophysiologic variables, results are crucial for the diagnosis of oral tumors.
including microvessel density, blood flow, endothelial Asaumi et al. (22) found that the CImax, time to
616 © 1996-2015
MRI in differentiation of benign and malignant tongue tumors
reach the CImax, and TIC patterns were useful larger in metastatic lymph nodes than in benign
for the differentiation of malignant lymphomas lymphadenopathy. Thus, a low value of ADC could
from SCCs. Hisatomi et al. (23) and Yabuuchi et be used to differentiate malignant tongue tumors
al. (24) reported that DEC-MRI parameters and from benign lesions, but this requires experimental
TIC patterns aided in the differential diagnosis support as exceptions have been found.
of salivary gland tumors based on the combined
assessment of Tpeak, CImax, and WR. A WR of The ADC values are ultimately dependent
30% enabled differentiation between malignancy on changes in the diffusion of proton H in water. The
and Warthin’s tumor (23, 24). In tongue tumor, TIC diffusion of protons into and through tissues reflects
parameters and patterns may allow for differential diffusion of extracellular water, influx of extracellular
diagnosis of benign and malignant lesions, but this water into cells across the cell membrane, the
needs to be confirmed. diffusion of intracellular water, and water efflux.
Because water protons in each compartment
5.3. Diffusion-weighted (DW) MRI in contribute differently to the average diffusion of
differential diagnosis of tongue tumors protons in tissue, ADC is highly dependent on the
Diffusion-weighted (DW)-MRI is cytoarchitecture of the tissue, and malignant tumors
based on the random thermal motion of water have a distinct tissue microstructure compared to
molecules, termed Brownian motion. Differences many benign growths. Thus, the signal intensity
in the translational diffusion of water molecules in DW-MRIs and derived ADCs vary with the
are quantified using apparent diffusion coefficients pathophysiological status of the tissue. Malignant
(ADCs) (28). These ADCs vary according to tissue tumors are characterized by hypercellularity and
microstructure, which is related to pathophysiological enlarged nuclei, both of which act to reduce ADCs.
state, and are inversely correlated with tissue Hypercellularity also reduces the extracellular
cellularity (28). Malignant tumors are associated with matrix and diffusion space of the extracellular
alterations in cellularity, cellular and nuclear contours, compartment (37, 38). Moreover, the larger and more
and with changes in the size and composition of angular nuclei in malignant tumors decrease the
the extracellular space. The use of DW-MRI to
cytosolic dimensions, resulting in further reductions
distinguish benign from malignant tumors or to grade
in ADC. Thus, the mean ADC values of malignant
malignancies has been reported (29-36).
tumors are usually significantly lower than those
DW-MRI and ADC measurement are a of benign tumors. There are exceptions, however;
promising method for the differentiation of benign exceptions that could lead to an improper diagnosis
from malignant tongue tumors. Shrinivasan are ADC values from mucoepidermoid carcinoma
et al. (30) found that malignant lesions exhibited and pleomorphic adenoma where the mobility of
a significantly lower average ADC compared to water protons is anomalous.
benign lesions, and a threshold ADC value of
1.3.×10-3 mm2/s was used to distinguish benign 6. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
from malignant head and neck lesions. Wang
et al. (31) demonstrated that the mean ADCs Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI and
of malignant lymphomas and carcinoma were DW-MRI each yield unique but complementary
significantly lower than that of benign tumors. In information on tumor microstructure and vascularity
this case, an ADC value less than 1.2.2×10-3 mm2/s that may greatly facilitate the differential diagnosis of
was used to predict malignancy. Diffusion-weighted malignant and benign tumors of the tongue. Apparent
MRI has also been utilized to assess metastatic diffusion coefficients from DW-MRI are particularly
lymph nodes and for the grading of malignancies. useful when differentiating benign tumors in which
For example, the ADC of high-grade malignant the DCE-MRI data exhibits a higher slope value more
lymphoma was significantly lower than that of indicative of malignancy. In general, the analysis
SCCs (32, 33). Vandecaveye et al. (34) suggested of TIC parameters derived from DCE-MRI results
that the ADC of malignant lymph nodes was are extremely valuable for distinguishing a benign
significantly lower than that of benign lymph nodes, tumor with a low ADC value from a malignant tumor
and used a threshold value of less than 0.8.5×10-3 with a high ADC value. Therefore, the combination
mm2/s to distinguish the malignant from benign of DCE-MRI and DW-MRI hold the potential for
status of each lymph node. In contrast, Sumi improved diagnostic specificity and accuracy in the
et al. (35, 36) found that the ADC was significantly characterization of tongue tumors.
617 © 1996-2015
MRI in differentiation of benign and malignant tongue tumors
618 © 1996-2015
MRI in differentiation of benign and malignant tongue tumors
619 © 1996-2015
MRI in differentiation of benign and malignant tongue tumors
620 © 1996-2015