Characteristic MR Signal of Velopharyngeal-Related Muscles on Cine-MRI in Patients with Oral Cancers and Preserved Swallowing Function: An Exploratory Feasibility Study.

BACKGROUND/

OBJECTIVES

Surgically treated oral cancer patients often face velopharyngeal insufficiency, which adversely impacts their quality of life (QOL). Our past investigations revealed noticeable MR signal shifts in velopharyngeal-related muscles during water deglutition on CMR among healthy individuals. We hypothesized that analyzing these distinct signal fluctuations could offer a novel visual perspective for detecting deglutition anomalies in surgical oral cancer cases. This feasibility study aimed to assess velopharyngeal-related muscular performance via CMR in post-operative oral cancer patients.

METHODS

Nineteen patients with oral malignancies were prospectively evaluated pre- and post-operatively. Twelve quantitative CMR metrics alongside subjective dysphagia scores were investigated. We analyzed whether signal intensity (SI) ratio alterations in these muscles correlated with dysphagia severity and clinical parameters.

RESULTS

Although three specific CMR parameters significantly worsened post-operatively, muscle MR signal values increased during deglutition without significant variation between pre- and post-surgical states. Subjective swallowing assessments remained entirely normal across all subjects.

CONCLUSIONS

This preliminary investigation indicates that CMR can visualize stable velopharyngeal-related muscle activity after surgery in oral cancer patients maintaining adequate swallowing status. Nevertheless, confirmation via larger, symptomatic patient cohorts alongside gold-standard techniques remains mandatory.