The Role of Multi-Detector-Computed Tomography in Staging of Laryngeal Cancer

Abstract

Background: An accurate staging of laryngeal carcinoma is vital to decide the treatment options. Imaging plays integral part in staging of laryngeal cancer with computed tomography (CT) being among the most used modalities.With advance in CT manufacturing and widespread use of multidetector CT (MDCT), more accurate and dependable clinical application would be expected.
Objective: To evaluate the role of MDCT in the staging of laryngeal cancer and to compare the efficacy of MDCT in assessing laryngeal cancer with respect to clinical and histopathological TNMstaging.
Patients and methods: Twenty-four patients with endoscopically proven laryngeal carcinoma underwent MDCT examination during the period between February 2013 and October 2013at CT unit of Middle Euphrates Neurocenter in Al-Sadder Medical city, Al-Najaf city. Clinical and histopathological records of all patients were reviewed and compared with MDCT findings.
Results: Twenty-four patients were included, with male to female ratio of 3:1 (18 males, 6 females) with mean age of 62.58±12.98 years. Fifty percent (12) of cases were at TNM stage 3, while stage 2 and stage 4 constituted 25% (6 cases) for each equally. There was statistically significant relation between stage of the tumor and volume. Male gender had statistically significant association with higher TNM stage while clinical presentation had not.
Conclusion: MDCT has a crucial role in estimation of the TNM stage of laryngeal carcinoma.The TNM stage of the laryngeal carcinoma tends to be upgraded when following MDCT findings are present:heterogenous density of the mass, presence of cartilage destruction, presence of anterior commissure involvement and larger volume of the mass. However, presence of extra laryngeal extension on MDCT may have no significant relation to a higher TNM stage.