DentaScan as an accurate method of predicting mandibular invasion in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity

OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of a dental computed tomographic software program, DentaScan, in assessing mandibular bone invasion in patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral cavity clinically fixed to the mandible. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: Academic tertiary care medical center. PATIENTS: Thirty-six consecutive patients underwent DentaScan imaging of the mandible prior to composite resection for tumor ablation. All patients included in this review had SCC of the oral cavity clinically fixed to the mandible. A final histopathology report specifically addressing the presence or absence of bone invasion was available for each patient. RESULTS: The diagnostic accuracy for DentaScan in this study was as follows: sensitivity, 95%; specificity, 79%; positive predictive value, 87%; and negative predictive value, 92%. CONCLUSION: DentaScan is an accurate method of preoperative evaluation for mandibular invasion in patients with SCC of the oral cavity.