title: Endocavitary sonography of early oral cavity malignant tumors.
abstract: Preoperative staging is crucial for oral cancer management. The purpose of this study was to assess the tumor thickness using ultrasound and to correlate the level of histological infiltration with the tumor superficial extension and lesion thickness.
  
  
  
  Thirty-two subjects affected by oral cavity carcinoma were prospectively evaluated with intraoral ultrasound. The ultrasound sensitivity, the correlation between the ultrasound level of infiltration, and lesion diameters and thickness were assessed.
  
  
  
  A 91% ultrasound sensitivity was found with no significant correlation between tumor diameter and level of histological infiltration (P >.05). A thickness of <2 mm was associated to tumor extension to the lamina propria, a value of >6 mm to muscular layer infiltration. Lymph adenopathies were identified in 21% of cases, associated to muscular layer infiltration in all cases.
  
  
  
  In the study of early oral cavity tumors, ultrasound is accurate for demonstrating the level of tumor infiltration and contributes to the therapeutic choice.
authors.affiliation: DIM, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Diagnostic Imaging, Aldo Moro University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Angelelli
authors.affiliation: DETO, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantations, Section of Pathological Anatomy, University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moschetta
authors.affiliation: DIM, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Odontostomatology and Surgery, Aldo Moro University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Limongelli
authors.affiliation: DIM, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Diagnostic Imaging, Aldo Moro University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Albergo
authors.affiliation: DIM, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Diagnostic Imaging, Aldo Moro University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lacalendola
authors.affiliation: DIM, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Odontostomatology and Surgery, Aldo Moro University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Brindicci
authors.affiliation: DIM, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Odontostomatology and Surgery, Aldo Moro University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Favia
authors.affiliation: DETO, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantations, Section of Pathological Anatomy, University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maiorano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019160:Endosonography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
keywords: endocavitary sonography; head and neck; oral cavity tumors; ultrasound