The emerging role of dynamic contrast enhanced mri in differentiation between various histologic subtypes of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Differentiating histologic subtypes and assessing tumor grade of oral squamous cell carcinoma using conventional contrast-enhanced MRI can be challenging. Newer advanced imaging MRI technique such as dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) provides assessment of prognosis and malignant potential of tumor by studying tissue microcirculation and blood perfusion. This study aims to determine whether dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) perfusion MRI can distinguish between histologic subtypes of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Sixty-two patients with newly diagnosed tumor lesions underwent both conventional contrast-enhanced MRI and DCE perfusion. The DCE parameters from the tumor lesions were compared with normal tissue. A Student's t-test was used to assess statistical significance, with p-values < 0.05 considered significant. The malignancy group was further divided into low-grade and high-grade subtypes for comparison. High-grade cancers (stage I/II) significantly increased quantitative perfusion parameters (Ktrans, Ve, and Kep) compared to low-grade (Stage III/IV) subtypes which is statistically significant (p <0.001). There was no significant difference in the quantitative parameters between well-differentiated and moderately differentiated subtypes. High-grade tumors predominantly exhibited a Type III signal intensity curve. DCE MRI perfusion parameters and signal intensity curves can effectively differentiate low-grade from high-grade oral cavity SCC thereby addressing the specific diagnostic gap in field of oral malignancy.
Authors: Jubin John, Vadlamudi Nagendra
Language: English
Topic: MRI in cancer diagnosis
Subfield: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4408399551