Abstract: This study investigated the application value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in evaluating the depth of cervical lymph node metastasis and tumor invasion caused by tongue squamous cell carcinoma of before surgery. 71 patients with tongue squamous cell carcinoma who underwent surgery were selected as clinical subjects for retrospective analysis. All patients received MRI examination before surgery to evaluate the positive rate of metastasis and the depth of tumor invasion in seven lymph node regions of the neck. The physical results were used as the diagnostic gold standard to calculate the value of MRI in evaluating cervical lymph node metastasis before operation. The correlation between the depth of tumor invasion detected by MRI and the results of pathological diagnosis was analyzed. Comparing preoperative MRI results with pathological results, the diagnostic coincidence rate of zone Ⅰ was 87.50%, the diagnostic coincidence rate of zone Ⅱ was 77.78%, the diagnostic coincidence rate of zone Ⅲ was 75.00%, the diagnostic coincidence rate of zone Ⅳ was 75.00%, and the diagnostic coincidence rate of zone Ⅴ was 100.00%. The diagnostic sensitivity of MRI to correct the cervical lymph nodes metastasis was 79.59% and the specificity was 86.36%. There was no significant difference between the preoperative T1WI, T2WI diagnosis of tongue squamous cell carcinoma infiltration depth and pathological results after surgery (P>0.05). MRI has a high sensitivity and specificity to evaluate the cervical lymph node metastasis caused by tongue squamous cell carcinoma before surgery. The preoperative assessment of tumor invasion depth has a high correlation with pathological results.

Key words: magnetic resonance imaging, tongue squamous cell carcinoma, lymph node metastasis, depth of invasion