Quantitative evaluation of consistency of early invasive carcinoma of the tongue

Abstract

Background. This study quantitatively evaluated the consistency of early invasive carcinoma of the tongue to enable the early detection of tongue cancer. Methods. The study population comprised 18 patients with early invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, 8 with lichen planus, 27 with leukoplakia, and 56 with advanced squamous cell carcinoma. All patients were examined with an instrument that measured consistency as a function of the load (in grams) needed to displace tongue mucosa by 2.0 mm, with a probe 2.0 mm in diameter. The consistency of early invasive carcinoma was compared with the consistency of normal mucosa and the consistency of the other tongue disease lesions. Consistency was also analyzed in relation to lesion size (diameter), clinical type, and histologic characteristics (grade of keratinization in the surface keratinized layer, degree of lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, and tumor thickness). Results. The mean values for the consistency of early invasive carcinoma, normal mucosa, lichen planus, leukoplakia, and advanced carcinoma lesions were 11.6 Ϯ 2.3, 4.9 Ϯ 0.7, 5.1 Ϯ 0.4, 8.3 Ϯ 2.0, and 25.4 Ϯ 8.5 g, respectively. Early invasive carcinoma was firmer than normal mucosa (P Ͻ 0.001), lichen planus (P ϭ 0.017), and leukoplakia (P ϭ 0.087). Advanced carcinoma was firmer than early invasive carcinoma (P Ͻ 0.001). In early invasive carcinoma, tumors more than 1-mm-thick were significantly firmer than those less than 1-mm-thick (P ϭ 0.013).Conclusions. This study demonstrated differences in consistency between early invasive carcinoma of the tongue and the lesions of other tongue diseases. Preoperative quantification of tumor consistency by this method could be helpful for the clinical diagnosis of early carcinoma of the tongue.

Strain elastography of palatal tumors in conjunction with intraoral ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging: 2 case reports

“…Inspection and palpation are frequently used for the clinical diagnosis of oral and maxillofacial lesions. Ogura et al [13][14][15][16] devised an instrument for measuring the consistency of oral cancer, quantitatively evaluated this consistency, and additionally evaluated the consistency of early invasive carcinoma of the oral cavity to enable the early detection of oral carcinoma. Along similar lines, we posit that using intraoral strain elastography in the assessment of palatal lesions may be helpful for the clinical diagnosis of early carcinoma of the palate.…”

Quantitative Evaluation of Biomechanical Properties of the Tongue Using a Shaker-Based Optical Coherence Elastography System

“…Hence, efficient ways have been explored to recognize and judge the early symptoms of tongue cancer. Many studies have declared that the carcinoma tissue may be harder than the surrounding normal tissue in early stage cancer, which reflects that the changes in biomechanical properties of tissues can appear with the presence of cancer [3][4][5]. Thereby, the study of the biomechanical properties of the tongue may be of great significance for the early diagnosis of tongue cancer.…”

Correlation between tumor consistency and cervical metastasis in tongue carcinoma

“…7 Furthermore, we have defined consistency of the tongue as a function of the load (in grams) needed to displace tongue mucosa by 2.0 mm by a probe 2.0 mm in diameter; we have established a method of obtaining quantitative data of consistency in tongue lesions; and we have evaluated differences in the consistency of the normal tongue, the tongue affected by squamous cell carcinoma, and the tongue with leukoplakia. 8 We also investigated the consistency of early invasive carcinoma of the tongue to enable early detection of tongue cancer 9 and whether any differences in consistency existed among different parts of the healthy tongue and the floor of the mouth. 10 In this study, we attempted to identify the correlation between tumor consistency and cervical lymph node metastasis in tongue carcinoma.…”