title: The vallecular line: an objective measure in evaluating the base of the tongue and vallecular cancers for transoral robotic surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We hypothesized that the degree of the exophytic nature of the base of the tongue and vallecular cancers (BOTs) impacts the feasibility of transoral resection. The growth pattern of these cancers can be measured by the vallecular line (VL), which is the distance between the hyoid bone and the vallecular tip.
  
  
  METHODS
  The normal VL was measured by 3 radiologists on 50 magnetic resonance imaging scans. The VL was then measured on magnetic resonance imaging scans of patients with BOT cancers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean VL was 8.2 mm (6.4-10 mm) in the healthy patients. The mean VL of the patients with predominantly exophytic BOT cancer was 22.7 mm (20.6-24.8 mm). Postoperative images of these patients demonstrate minimal loss of the native tongue after transoral resection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The VL is a valuable objective measurement of the exophytic nature of BOT cancers. Predominantly exophytic BOT cancers are deemed more amenable for successful and functional transoral surgical resection.
authors.affiliation: From the *Department of Radiology, and † Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Nabila
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hai
authors.forename: M Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Taheri
authors.forename: Nader
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sadeghi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D059925:Anatomic Landmarks / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006928:Hyoid Bone / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012371:Robotics / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult