Bone Cancer Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Bone Cancer, including details on symptoms, types, treatment.

Can magnetic resonance imaging replace single photon computed tomography and computed tomography in detecting bony invasion in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma?

Rajesh A, Khan A, Kendall C, Hayter J, Cherryman G

Leicester General Hospital, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester LE5 4PW, United Kingdom. arajesh27@hotmail.com

AIM: To determine whether MRI can replace SPECT and CT in detecting bone invasion in patients with oral SCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective and independent review of the MRI, SPECT, and when available CT, images of 23 patients with oral malignancy who had formal bone resection was undertaken. Our gold standard was histopathology. RESULTS: Bone involvement was seen in 19/23 resections. Sensitivity of MRI was 100% [95% CI 1.0-1.0] and specificity was 75% [95% CI 0.326-1.174]. Sensitivity of SPECT was 100% [95% CI 1.0-1.0] and specificity was 50% [95% CI 0.01-0.99]. CONCLUSIONS: MRI is accurate in predicting bone involvement. The addition of SPECT and CT to routine MRI staging protocols seems no longer indicated. CT may be useful in some selected cases to determine maxillary involvement due to the thinner cortex of the maxilla.

Published 24 December 2007 in Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg, 46(1): 11-4.
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