Evaluation of Diagnostic Imaging Techniques for Early Detection and Accurate Staging of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC)

Abstract

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) represents a prominent malignancy of the oral cavity, posing a significant health burden worldwide. Timely detection and precise staging are essential determinants for efficacious management strategies, promoting improved patient outcomes. A multitude of diagnostic imaging modalities has been employed to serve these purposes, each endowed with distinctive benefits and inherent limitations. This study provides a comprehensive evaluation and comparison of the major imaging techniques used for OSCC detection and staging, including computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), ultrasound (US), and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), The review highlights CT as the primary modality for initial OSCC evaluation, given its ability to delineate the tumor's extent, lymph node involvement, and invasion into adjacent structures. MRI emerges as superior for assessing soft tissue invasion due to its higher resolution, despite its comparative inferiority for bone assessment. PET, often coupled with CT, furnishes functional insights into the tumor, playing a crucial role in evaluating therapeutic responses, recurrence, and metastasis. US is instrumental in diagnosing cervical lymph node metastasis—a major prognostic factor in OSCC—and assessing the primary tumor thickness. CBCT, a prevalent tool in dental practices, and panoramic radiography provide valuable views of dental structures and broad overviews of oral structures, respectively, albeit with varying degrees of precision and detail. Scintigraphy, while less common due to advancements in other techniques, retains relevance for certain clinical scenarios. The selection of an appropriate imaging modality hinges on several factors, encompassing tumor characteristics, patient health, and resource availability. Often, multiple imaging techniques are integrated for a comprehensive disease overview.