Transcervical ultrasonography is feasible to visualize and evaluate base of tongue cancers.
BACKGROUND
Base of tongue (BOT) is a difficult subsite to examine clinically and radiographically. Yet, anatomic delineation of the primary tumor site, its extension to adjacent sites or across midline, and endophytic vs. exophytic extent are important characteristics for staging and treatment planning. We hypothesized that ultrasound could be used to visualize and describe BOT tumors.


METHODS
Transcervical ultrasound was performed using a standardized protocol in cases and controls. Cases had suspected or confirmed BOT malignancy. Controls were healthy individuals without known malignancy.


RESULTS
100% of BOT tumors were visualized. On ultrasound BOT tumors were hypoechoic (90.9%) with irregular margins (95.5%). Ultrasound could be used to characterize adjacent site involvement, midline extent, and endophytic extent, and visualize the lingual artery. No tumors were suspected for controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Ultrasonography can be used to transcervically visualize BOT tumors and provides clinically relevant characteristics that may not otherwise be appreciable.
Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America ; Milton J. Dance, Jr. Head and Neck Center, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.
Ray Gervacio F
RG
Blanco
Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America ; Milton J. Dance, Jr. Head and Neck Center, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.
Joseph
J
Califano
Milton J. Dance, Jr. Head and Neck Center, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.
Barbara
B
Messing
Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.
Jeremy
J
Richmon
Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.
Jia
J
Liu
Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America ; Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.
Harry
H
Quon
Department of Radiology, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.
Geoffrey
G
Neuner
Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America ; Milton J. Dance, Jr. Head and Neck Center, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.
John
J
Saunders
Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America ; Milton J. Dance, Jr. Head and Neck Center, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.
Patrick K
PK
Ha
Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.
Sheila
S
Sheth
Department of Internal Medicine, Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America.
Maura
M
Gillison
Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America ; Milton J. Dance, Jr. Head and Neck Center, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America ; Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.
Carole
C
Fakhry
D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014059:Tongue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods