Comparison of preoperative computed tomographic findings with postoperative histopathological findings in laryngeal cancers.

In this study of 22 patients with laryngeal cancer, computed tomographic (CT) scans in the axial plane were compared with histopathological sections prepared in the same plane. The value of the preoperative CT for evaluating tumor invasion, location and size was then investigated. Findings demonstrated that CT was most sensitive in determining tumor invasion to the paralaryngeal and preepiglottic spaces, anterior and posterior commissures and subglottis. In contrast, CT was less sensitive in determining actual tumor invasion to the laryngeal cartilages, extralaryngeal tissues and metastases to cervical lymph nodes.