MR-IMAGING OF SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA OF THE LARYNX AND HYPOPHARYNX

Despite recent diagnostic advances, the laryngopharynx remains an area where accurate assessment of tumor size and extent is difficult. Comp uted tomography has proven helpful in delineating lesions in these are as, yet significant limitations exist. In an attempt to more accuratel y evaluate laryngopharyngeal neoplasms, MX imaging was performed in 25 consecutive patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and h ypopharynx. MR imaging was analyzed for its utility in clinical stagin g, assistance in selection of candidates for conservation, laryngeal. surgery, and ability to reliably predict cartilage invasion. MR imagin g improved the accuracy of tumor staging by 40% and was valuable in th e selection of candidates for conservation surgery. In addition, MR im aging was able to predict cartilage invasion in 6 of 6 patients with p athologic confirmation with a single false-positive case. MR imaging a ppears to be a reliable indicator of tumor size and location and shoul d be judiciously incorporated into the staging and pretreatment planni ng of patients presenting with laryngopharyngeal malignancies.