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India | Radiology and Medical Imaging Sciences | Volume 14 Issue 9, September 2025 | Pages: 511 - 516
The Role of MRI and CECT in Evaluation of Oral Cavity Malignancy and Its Staging
Abstract: Background: Oral cavity cancers, predominantly squamous cell carcinomas, constitute nearly one-third of all malignancies in India and continue to pose a major clinical challenge. Accurate staging is essential for optimizing treatment outcomes, with imaging playing a pivotal role. Objective: To compare the diagnostic performance of Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography (CECT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in the pretreatment staging of oral cavity cancers, using histopathology as the reference standard. Methods: A prospective analysis of 41 patients with histopathologically confirmed oral cavity cancers was undertaken. All patients underwent both CECT and MRI, and imaging findings were compared with histopathological staging. Results: MRI demonstrated superior soft tissue contrast and more precise delineation of tumor extent compared to CECT. MRI was particularly effective in detecting subtle extensions into adjacent anatomical spaces and identifying metastatic spread, findings that were frequently under detected by CECT. Conclusion: MRI offers greater accuracy than CECT in the staging of oral cavity cancers and provides critical detail for surgical planning and prognostication. While its routine adoption is limited by cost and accessibility, MRI should be strongly considered as a complementary imaging modality in comprehensive pretreatment evaluation.
Keywords: Oral cancer staging, MRI v CT, Squamous cell carcinoma, head and neck imaging and radiological diagnosis
How to Cite?: Dr. SR. Naresh Kumar, Dr. Vijay A Dahiphale, Dr. Anandh S. H., Dr. Mohan Siddappa, Dr. Siva Abisheak, "The Role of MRI and CECT in Evaluation of Oral Cavity Malignancy and Its Staging", Volume 14 Issue 9, September 2025, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 511-516, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR25910164821, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR25910164821