title: MRI in evaluation of neoplastic invasion into preepiglottic and paraglottic space.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether magnetic resonance (MR) imaging can accurately predict invasion of the preepiglottic and paraglottic space in patients with laryngeal carcinoma. Identification of these fat filling spaces is important for surgical treatment and prognosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was based on the prospective analysis of MRI images in a series of 40 patients (90% males), overall average age 60.1 ± 7.3 years, (49-70 years), with histopathologically diagnosed laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Unenhanced T2w, T2w FS, T1w, and contrast-enhanced T1w FS scans were analyzed for the presence of preepiglottic and paraglottic neoplastic invasion and were compared to postoperative histopathologic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 28 patients (70%) the tumor was glottic and in 12 patients (30%) supraglottic. No statistical difference was found in the number of patients with positive MRI findings in comparison to postsurgical patohistology for infiltration of the preepiglottic space (23% vs 20%, respectively). Sensitivity for infiltration of preepiglottic space was 89% and specificity was 97%. However, infiltration of the paraglottic spaces was observed more frequently on MRI than on postsurgical patohistology analysis (60% vs 40%, respectively; p<0.05), with a sensitivity of 67% and a specificity 50%. According to MRI findings, 26 (65%) patients were classified as T3, 14 (35%) patients as T2 while according to histopathologic analysis of specimens after surgery, 19 patients were classified as T3 (48%) and 21 as T2 (52%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MRI has been shown to be a reliable method for assessment of preepiglottic space while the diagnostic accuracy in patients with infiltration of the paraglottic space is limited.
authors.affiliation: Center for Radiology and MRI, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Serbia. Electronic address: bojanbanko@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Bojan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Banko
authors.affiliation: Clinic for ENT and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Serbia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Vojko
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Djukic
authors.affiliation: Clinic for ENT and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Serbia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Jovica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Milovanovic
authors.affiliation: Center for Radiology and MRI, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Serbia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kovac
authors.affiliation: Clinic for ENT, University Clinical Center of Banja Luka, Republic of Srpska.
authors.forename: Zorica
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Novakovic
authors.affiliation: Center for Radiology and MRI, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Serbia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Ruzica
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maksimovic
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004825:Epiglottis / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005931:Glottis / Q000473:pathology*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
keywords: Larynx; Magnetic resonance imaging; Preoperative evaluation; Tumors