The correlation between CT, MR Images and Whole Organ Section in the Cancerous Larynges

Computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the larynx are useful methods for the diagnosis and treatment planning of the laryngeal cancer. They have several advantages and disadvantages when compared to each other. Nine patients with laryngeal carcinoma underwent CT and MRI of the larynx prior to surgery. Whole mount sections of the extirpated larynx cut in the horizontal plane were compared with the corresponding levels of the preoperative CT and MRI axial sections. This study in particular was designed to evaluate the accuracy of CT and MRI in diagnosing involvement of cartilages or laryngeal spaces and to correlate CT and MRI findings with histopathologic involvement of tumor. Our results indicate that MRI is more useful than CT in evaluating cartilage involvement. However, respiratory motion artifact and long scan time can degrade MR images. Therefore, we recommend CT rather than MRI for patients with large tumors compromising airway and for those with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.ope