Accuracy analysis of MRI in the depth of invasion assessment of tongue squamous cell carcinoma

To analyze the accuracy of the infiltrating depth of tongue squamous cell carcinoma measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using pathological sections under a light microscope to provide a clinical reference.

Seventy-three patients with tongue squamous cell carcinoma who visited the Department of Stomatology of the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University and Xiangya Stomatological Hospital from January 2018 to September 2020 were selected. Preoperative MRI was performed to evaluate the infiltration depth of tongue squamous cell carcinoma, and intraoperative frozen pathological sections were used to confirm the infiltration depth of tongue squamous cell carcinoma measurement.

The infiltration depth of tongue squamous cell carcinoma measured by T1-weighted imaging was 1.11 mm (95% CI＝0.51-1.70; t＝3.72; P < 0.001), and the correlation coefficient r was 0.95. The T2-weighted average overestimation was 2.17 mm (95% CI＝1.32-3.02; t＝5.10; P < 0.001), and the correlation coefficient was 0.92. The Bland-Altman plot showed good consistency between T1- and T2-weighted images and pathologic measurements.

The infiltration depth of tongue squamous cell carcinoma measured by MRI is more accurate, with an average overestimation of 1-2 mm compared with pathological measurements, and T1-weighted images are better than T2-weighted images.