Surgical Margin Assessment by 3D Ultrasound

Feasibility of 3D Ultrasound in the Assessment of Resection Margins During Surgery for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Tongue: a Comparison With Histopathology

Complete removal of cancer encircled by a secure margin of healthy tissue is the aim of surgical oncology. A close or positive surgical margin reported by pathologist typically ends in adjuvant therapies (re-surgery and/or radiotherapy), which come with prognostic risks and financial cost. Therefore, ex-vivo imaging of removed cancer tissue may assist in margin evaluation. In this study, investigators aimed to investigate the correlation of 3D ultrasound to histopathology to assess tongue tumor margin status.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with biopsy-proven oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma scheduled for surgical treatment
• T1-T2 staging on cross-sectional imaging

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age < 18 yrs
• T3-T4 staging
• Unable to understand the verbal or written information
• Prior radiotherapy treatment of oral cavity cancer