Impact of magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography on the staging of laryngeal cancer.

This retrospective study quantitatively assessed the effects of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) on the staging of laryngeal cancer. A blind comparison between CT and MRI was made in a group of previously untreated patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx. From June 1992 to November 1993, 29 patients were eligible for study. Of these, 14 patients (48%) had supraglottic lesions, 11 patients (40%) had glottic lesions and 4 patients (14%) had both. No subglottic lesions were seen. The data suggest that clinical staging of laryngeal tumors is inadequate. MRI proved superior to CT for staging tumors, especially those confined to the supraglottis. Nevertheless, clinically staged T1 or T2 lesions could be adequately assessed by CT alone. Findings also indicate that MRI should be reserved for T3 or T4 clinically staged lesions. Furthermore, most nodal disease can be staged by CT.