Accuracy of diagnostic aids in oral squamous cell carcinoma: A comparative study.

Aim: To assess the accuracy of metastasis in cervical nodes using preoperative palpation method, ultrasonography with colour doppler (USG) and computed tomography (CT) in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Methodology: Thirty‐one biopsy‐proven patients with OSCC who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the study. The nodal status of each was assessed by clinical palpation, USG and CT and compared with the post‐operative histopathological result. The results were evaluated statistically for sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value and accuracy. Results: The accuracy of clinical palpation, USG and CT in diagnosing a node as metastatic was 70.9%, 100% and 87%, respectively, showing ultrasonography to be better than CT, followed by CT and clinical palpation. Conclusion: The accuracy and sensitivity of USG in the detection of cervical lymph node metastases make it a potentially promising and cheap preoperative tool for staging neck node metastases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]