CT and MR imaging in tumors of the tongue, tongue base, and floor of the mouth: a comparative study.

A retrospective comparative study was done between CT and MR in 23 patients with a tumor of the tongue, tongue base, or floor of the mouth. Tumor detection, delineation of tumor extent and the visualisation of enlarged lymph nodes was examined. Sixty per cent of the tumors were better visualised with MR, and in 21% supplementary information was acquired using MR. There were no significant differences between CT and MR regarding the visualisation of adenopathies. Despite the differences in tumor visualisation, the radiological staging according to the TNM-classification was not altered by MR.