[The value of spiral CT in the staging of carcinomas of the oral cavity and of the oro- and hypopharynx].
OBJECTIVE
To compare spiral and conventional CT in the staging of carcinomas of the oral cavity, the oropharynx and hypopharynx.


METHODS
Retrospectively 101 conventional CTs and prospectively 107 spiral CTs were analyzed regarding to correct T and N staging. CT results were compared with histological staging.


RESULTS
In conventional CT, there were correctly staged 85% of T stages (T1 62%, T2 74%, T3 81%, T4 94%) and 85% of N stages (N0 79%, N1 71%, N2 89%, N3 94%). Spiral CT showed correct results in 84% of T stages (T1 67%, T2 74%, T3 88%, T4 95%) and in 86% of N stages (N0 82%, N1 78%, N2 90%, N3 93%). No statistically significant differences could be found between both CT methods.


CONCLUSIONS
In spite of the tendency of improved diagnosis of T1, N0 and N1 stages no clear improvement in the staging of carcinomas of the oral cavity, the oropharynx and hypopharynx could be expected by spiral CT.
Kösling
S
S
Klinik und Poliklinik für Diagnostische Radiologie, Institut für Pathologie, Universität Leipzig.
Schmidtke
M
M
Vothel
F
F
Hahn
S
S
Weidenbach
H
H
Oeken
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data