Diagnostic Accuracy of Computed Tomography in Detection of Cartilage Invasion in Laryngeal Carcinoma Taking Histopathology as Gold Standard

Abstract

Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of contrast enhanced computed tomography (CECT) of neck in detecting the neoplastic invasion of the laryngeal cartilages among patients with clinically suspected laryngeal carcinoma taking histopathology as gold standard.

Methodology: This cross-sectional study was department of Radiology, Civil Hospital, Karachi from April to October 2018, on the 141 clinically suspected of laryngeal cancer patients of either age and gender. CECT of neck was performed in supine position and parameters were analyzed. Subsequently the patient who were referred to biopsy and histopathological results were followed and recorded and diagnostic accuracy of contrast enhanced CT was analyzed taking histopathology as gold standard.

Results: There were 67.4% male and 32.6% female patients. Mean age was 56.85±9.57 years. Mean symptoms duration was 7.84±2.30 weeks. Out of all, 58.2% cases were diagnosed with laryngeal cartilage invasion in laryngeal carcinoma by CT scan and 60.3% cases by histopathology. Sensitivity, Specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy were 90.2%, 81.4%, 87.1%, 85.7%, and 86.5% respectively.

Conclusion: Computed Tomography is a precise and non-invasive imaging method for the staging of laryngeal with high sensitivity, although has relatively less specificity.