title: [Value of computerized tomography and magnetic resonance tomography in diagnosis of malignancies of the mouth cavity and oropharynx].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is a lack of clear criteria for the use of MR and CT in the diagnosis of head and neck cancer--some of it is even contradictory. The results of this study should lead to the establishment of more clear criteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  165 patients suffering from head and neck tumors were subjected to a total of 463 CT and 197 MRI examinations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CT and MRI staging corresponded in 67% and 60% of the oropharynx tumors, respectively, with the clinical findings. In the case of oral cavity tumors, the clinical TNM stages were identical with CT and MRI results in 50% and 43% of cases, respectively. In the case of lymphatic node staging, the frequency of error was slightly higher using MRI, at 27%, compared with the CT rate of 22%. In the evaluation of cervical lymphatic nodes, CT proved to be more sensitive attaining 78% compared to the MRI rate of 69%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results provide clear indications as to the MRI and CT examinations. Primary preoperative screening and post-therapeutic aftercare should be assessed using CT, as should lymphatic node diagnosis in the neck area. In the case of special problems such as, for example, the relevant bone and periostium infiltration, MR should be considered as a supplementary examination at a second stage.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Mund-, Kiefer- und Gesichtschirurgie, Universität Bonn. niederhagen@uni-bonn.de
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Niederhagen
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Leipner
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bergé
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: von Lindern
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Appel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D037981:Neck Dissection; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed