The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether magnetic resonance (MR) imaging can accurately predict invasion of the preepiglottic and paraglottic space in patients with laryngeal carcinoma. Identification of these fat filing spaces is important for surgical treatment and prognosis.

The study was based on the prospective analysis of MRI images in a series of 40 patients (90% males), overall average age 62.2±5.1years; range 49–70years, who underwent MRI imaging prior to the surgery. The study was done in the Center for Radiology and MRI and the Clinic for ENT and Maxillofacial Surgery, Clinical Center of Serbia in 2009 and 2011. Upon admittance to the hospital, all patients had clinical examination including indirect laryngoscopy, endoscopic examination with biopsy, followed by MRI. Based on these findings they...

The study included 40 patients (90% males), mean age 60.1±7.3years, range 49–70years. In 28 patients (70%) the tumor was glottic an in 12 patients (30%) supraglottic. All patients had hoarseness, 20 (50%) were coughing, 30 (75%) experienced swallowing problems, and 22 patients (55%) complained of neck pain. Infiltration of the paraglottic spaces was seen in 24 (60%) patients on MRI and in 16 (40%) patients at the surgery, which was statistically significant difference (z=−0.4; p<0.05), with sensitivity of 78% and specificity 65%. (Fig.1). Preepiglottic space...

MRI has high diagnostic accuracy in assessment of preepiglotic space, while infiltration of the paraglottic space is still difficult to evaluate, most probably due to peritumoral infiltration. Endoscopic examination is the most important for mucosal evaluation, while MRI could be considerd as a helpful diagnostic method that can contribute to the preoperative staging and further clinical decisions.

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