Tongue cancer CT
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Tongue cancer Microchapters |
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Diagnosis |
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Treatment |
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Case Studies |
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Tongue cancer CT On the Web |
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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Tongue cancer CT |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Simrat Sarai, M.D. [2]
Overview
Head and neck CT scan may be helpful in the diagnosis of tongue cancer. Findings on CT scan suggestive of tongue cancer include soft tissue attenuation of lesions, bony erosions, and increased attenuation of involved nodes.
CT
- CT is the most commonly used modality for assessment of tongue squamous cell carcinoma, able to both locally stage the tumor and assess for nodal metastases.
- Lesions typically appear of soft tissue attenuation, usually a little more attenuating than normal tongue musculature (on account of the keratin) and enhance following contrast administration.
- Both algorhythm thin section CT is the most sensitive modality for assessing early bony erosion.
- Non-contrast scans of the neck may demonstrate increased attenuation of involved nodes due to keratin production by tumor deposits