The comperative analysis of tumor tissue between preoperative ultrasonographic evaluation and histopathological examination in lip cancer

Lips are the most important anatomical structures in the human body due to their vital functions and social statute. Lip cancer is a significant health problem. Lip cancers are mostly localized on the lower lip and the most frequent histopathological type is squamous cell carcinoma. The treatment planning of these cancers are primarily based on the preoperative evaluation of tumor size, depth and characteristics. The purpose of this study is to evaluate preoperative tumor size, depth and characteristics by ultrasonography and to determine its role and efficacy in lip cancer.Eighteen patients who underwent surgery due to lip cancer between November 2009 and April 2011 were enrolled in the study. All of the patients undertaken a ultrasonographic evaluation and their tumor features (size, depth, characteristics etc.) were recorded. Thereafter, every patient operated as planned and tumor specimen sent to Pathology department for histopathological examination. The tumor type, subtype, size, depth and characteristics were evaluated and recorded regularly. Ultrasonographic and histopathologic findings were compared according to tumor size, depth and characteristics and a statistical analysis was performed.A statistically significant relationship with moderate correlation was found between ultrasonographic and histopathologic evaluation (p=0,004 and 0,041; r=0,45 and 0,60). The ultrasonographic evaluation of epidermis and subepidermis involvement and muscle invasion showed high sensitivity and positive predictivity, respectively. In addition, RI value and tumor homogenity/heterogenity demonstrated statistically significant relationship with tumor diferantiation (p=0,034, 0,030).Ultrasonography is a common, easy to perform, inexpensive radiologic technigne without any radiation risk. It can be used in order to determine the tumor size, depth and characteristics in lip cancers preoperatively.