Imaging findings of oral cancers

Abstract In current daily clinical practice, radiological imaging is essential for preoperative determination of the appropriate staging and treatment strategies for oral cancers. CT images with bone algorithms usually provide high specificity for bone erosion of the buccal and lingual cortices of the jaw. Contrast-enhanced CT images are useful for detecting regional lymphadenopathy. MR imaging is the best imaging modality for assessing size, depth, configuration, margin, location, and tumor extension of primary oral cancers. Fat-suppressed contrast-enhanced MR images are particularly beneficial in detecting perineural tumor spread. Diffusion-weighted MR images can predict tumor characteristics, including tumor cellularity, histological subtypes, and histological grades. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT mainly contributes to identifying regional lymphadenopathy and distant metastasis. The appropriate use of diagnostic imaging is essential in the proper management of oral cancers and improvement of prognosis.