Tongue cancer CT

Tongue cancer Microchapters
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [2]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Simrat Sarai, M.D. [3]

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.
• CT is the modality of choice to evaluate the patient's nodal status. The evaluation of nodal size, number, location, contour, and necrosis is helpful in staging. Tongue cancer may be difficult to pick up on CT due to its imaging characteristics, unless the tumor leads to deformity of the extrinsic tongue musculature or the anatomy of the floor of mouth or tongue base.

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  CT of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue showing axial bone window

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  CT of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue showing coronal bone window