Objective To observe the value of MRI in preoperative staging of tongue squamous cell carcinomas (TSCC).Methods Totally 154 patients with TSCC underwent MR scanning.MR manifestations of TSCC were analyzed,and the preoperative staging of Tumor (T),Node (N) and American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) were performed.Then the consistency between preoperative MRI staging and postoperative pathology staging was evaluated.Results Preoperative MRI T staging were T1 in 37 patients,T2 in 54,T3 in 7 and T4 in 56 patients,respectively,while N staging were N0 in 104 patients,N1 in 31 and N2 in 19 patients,respectively.For AJCC staging,there were 34 patients in Ⅰ stage,37 in Ⅱ stage,21 in Ⅲ stage and 62 in Ⅳ stage,respectively.Between preoperative MRI and postoperative pathology staging,the Kappa of T,N and AJCC staging was 0.814,0.786 and 0.790,respectively (all P＜0.01).The accuracy rate of preoperative MRI T,N and AJCC staging of TSCC was 87.01％ (134/154),88.96％ (137/154) and 85.06％ (131/154),respectively.Conclusion The consistency was good between preoperative MRI T,N and AJCC staging and postoperative pathology staging of TSCC.

Objective To observe the value of MRI for differentiating flaps and tumor recurrence after tongue cancer reconstruction.Methods Totally 139 patients after flap reconstruction for tongue cancers were retrospectively enrolled,and MRI manifestations of flaps and recurrence of tongue cancer were comparatively analyzed.Results During follow-up,local flaps mainly presented as equal signals on T1WI,high signals on T2WI within 5 months but then predominately as equal signals.Free flaps consistently showed mixed high signals on both T1WI and T2WI,with striated and sheeted muscle signals.The recurrent lesions consistently showed slightly inhomogeneous equal signals on T1WI and high signals on T2WI.The degree of enhancement of flaps gradually decreased,while the recurrent lesions continued to show severe enhancement.The margins of flaps were predominantly indistinct within 5 months after reconstruction,then became distinct in≥13 while＜74 months with smaller size than before,while recurrent lesions continued to show indistinct borders.The mylohyoid muscles and hyoglossus muscles predominantly swelled within 5 months after construction but then atrophied.Hematoma and cyst cavity in the operation area could be observed 5 months after construction.The recurrence lesions located in the lower and posterior junction part of flaps and the residual tongue tissue,spiculated margins could be found in the ipsilateral or contralateral mylohyoid muscles and hyoglossus muscles,as well as cervical lymph node and distant metastases.Conclusion MRI was helpful to differentiating flaps and recurrence lesions after tongue cancer reconstruction.