Use of Computed Tomography in the Diagnosis of Oral Cavity Carcinoma

Background: Oral cancer particularly squamous cell carcinoma is a very common problem in Bangladesh. A significant portion of patients present at late stage mostly due to initial symptomless behavior of lesion and lack of awareness. The tumor commonly involves buccal mucosa of mandible and in more advance stage. Objectives: The study aims to determine the utility of computed tomography in diagnosing oral cavity carcinoma, including the frequency of different types of malignant oral cavity carcinomas. Methods and Materials: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Radiology and Imaging at BSMMU from July 2016 to June 2018, enrolling 60 patients with suspected malignant oral cavity carcinoma. Informed written consent was obtained, ensuring ethical standards were maintained throughout the study. Data were collected using a preformed questionnaire and personal file analysis, and were subsequently analyzed using SPSS 23. Results: The study included 60 patients, with 36.7% aged 65-74 years and 56.7% male. Socio-economically, 73.3% had below-average income. Betel nut/quid chewing was prevalent in 63.33% of cases (p = 0.028), indicating a strong association with oral cancer. Tumor size averaged 4.3 cm, and 53.33% of tumors were in the advanced T4 stage. CT scans showed 70% of lesions were isodense, and the diagnostic accuracy of CT for oral carcinoma was 91.67%, with a sensitivity of 94.87%. Conclusion: CT plays a crucial role in diagnosing oral cavity carcinoma, particularly in elderly males, with most patients suffering from the disease for an average of three years or more.