Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

MRI findings of benign tumors and tumor-like diseases of the tongue with radiologic–pathologic correlation

  • Pictorial Essay
  • Published:
Japanese Journal of Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Benign tumors or tumor-like lesions of the tongue are uncommon lesions that comprise a heterogeneous group of neoplasms. Although there are a variety of benign tumors or tumor-like lesions, the imaging appearance of these diseases is not well defined because of a paucity of scientific literature on this topic. Most benign tongue tumors usually appear as submucosal bulges located in the deep portion of the tongue. Their true features and extent may only be identified on cross-sectional images such as CT and MRI. Thus, CT and MRI play an important role in the diagnosis of these unusual lesions. It is important that radiologists be able to identify the characteristic CT and MR imaging features that can be used to narrow the differential diagnosis with increased diagnostic confidence, suggest specific histologic tumor types. In this pictorial essay, we provide insights into the MRI presentations of benign tongue tumors and tumor-like diseases and their radiologic–pathologic correlation. Benign tumors or tumor-like lesions of the tongue described herein include papilloma, lipoma, hemangioma, venous malformations, schwannoma, neurofibroma, epidermoid cyst, and dermoid cyst.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ai S, Zhu W, Liu Y, Wang P, Yu Q, Dai K. Combined DCE- and DW-MRI in diagnosis of benign and malignant tumors of the tongue. Front Biosci (Landmark Ed). 2013;18:1098–111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Akerzoul N, Chbicheb S. The efficacy of low-level laser therapy in treating oral papilloma: a case reporting a lingual location. Contemp Clin Dent. 2018;9(Suppl 2):S369–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Kato H, Kanematsu M, Makita H, Kato K, Hatakeyama D, Shibata T, et al. CT and MR imaging findings of palatal tumors. Eur J Radiol. 2014;83(3):e137–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Carneiro TE, Marinho SA, Verli FD, Mesquita AT, Lima NL, Miranda JL. Oral squamous papilloma: clinical, histologic and immunohistochemical analyses. J Oral Sci. 2009;51(3):367–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Fletcher CD, Martin-Bates E. Spindle cell lipoma: a clinicopathological study with some original observations. Histopathology. 1987;11(8):803–17.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Kim SH, Han MH, Park SW, Chang KH. Radiologic-pathologic correlation of unusual lingual masses: Part II: benign and malignant tumors. Korean J Radiol. 2001;2(1):42–51.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Math KR, Pavlov H, DiCarlo E, Bohne WH. Spindle cell lipoma of the foot: a case report and literature review. Foot Ankle Int. 1995;16(4):220–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Eviatar JA, Hornblass A, Harrison W. Myositis ossificans masquerading as a recurrent spindle cell lipoma of the orbit. Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg. 1993;9(4):284–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Lin HP, Liu CJ, Chiang CP. Spindle cell lipoma of the tongue. J Formos Med Assoc. 2015;114(5):477–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Cappabianca S, Del Vecchio W, Giudice A, Colella G. Vascular malformations of the tongue: MRI findings on three cases. Dentomaxillofac Radiol. 2006;35(3):205–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Razek AA, Huang BY. Soft tissue tumors of the head and neck: imaging-based review of the WHO classification. Radiographics. 2011;31(7):1923–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Mangold AR, Torgerson RR, Rogers RS 3rd. Diseases of the tongue. Clin Dermatol. 2016;34(4):458–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Mulliken JB, Fishman SJ, Burrows PE. Vascular anomalies. Curr Probl Surg. 2000;37(8):517–84.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Chava VR, Shankar AN, Vemanna NS, Cholleti SK. Multiple venous malformations with phleboliths: radiological-pathological correlation. J Clin Imaging Sci. 2013;3(Suppl 1):13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Scolozzi P, Laurent F, Lombardi T, Richter M. Intraoral venous malformation presenting with multiple phleboliths. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endodontol. 2003;96(2):197–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Broly E, Lefevre B, Zachar D, Hafian H. Solitary neurofibroma of the floor of the mouth: rare localization at lingual nerve with intraoral excision. BMC Oral Health. 2019;19(1):197.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Bindal S, El Ahmadieh TY, Plitt A, Aoun SG, Neeley OJ, El Tecle NE, et al. Hypoglossal schwannomas: a systematic review of the literature. J Clin Neurosci. 2019;62:162–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Kami YN, Chikui T, Okamura K, Kubota Y, Oobu K, Yabuuchi H, et al. Imaging findings of neurogenic tumours in the head and neck region. Dentomaxillofac Radiol. 2012;41(1):18–23.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Campos MS, Fontes A, Marocchio LS, Nunes FD, de Sousa SC. Clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical features of oral neurofibroma. Acta Odontol Scand. 2012;70(6):577–82.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Smirniotopoulos JG, Chiechi MV. Teratomas, dermoids, and epidermoids of the head and neck. Radiographics. 1995;15(6):1437–55.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Kim SH, Han MH, Park SW, Chang KH. Radiologic-pathologic correlation of unusual lingual masses: part I: congenital lesions. Korean J Radiol. 2001;2(1):37–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Misch E, Kashiwazaki R, Lovell MA, Herrmann BW. Pediatric sublingual dermoid and epidermoid cysts: a 20-year institutional review. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2020;138: 110265.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Kim SH, Park SW, Chang KH. Radiologic-pathologic correlation of unusual lingual masses: part ii: benign and malignant tumors. Korean J Radiol. 2001;2(1):42–51.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Fang WS, Illner A, Hamilton BE, Hedlund GL, Hunt JP, Harnsberger HR. Primary lesions of the root of the tongue. Radiographics. 2011;31(7):1907–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Law CP, Chandra RV, Hoang JK, Phal PM. Imaging the oral cavity: key concepts for the radiologist. Br J Radiol. 2011;84(1006):944–57.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This work was supported by grants from the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (nos.2021A1515011571,2020A1515010165), Guangzhou Science, Technology and Innovation Commission (CN) (nos.201804010049), and the “Dengfeng plan” Scientific Research Project (nos. DFJH201912), P.R. China.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, PR China

    Lin Liu, Yunyan Zi & Haijun Wu

  2. Medical College Postgraduate College, Shantou University, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, PR China

    Lin Liu & Haijun Wu

  3. Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence in Medical Image Analysis and Application, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, 510080, China

    Lin Liu, Yunyan Zi & Haijun Wu

  4. Department of Radiology, Meizhou People’s Hospital, Meizhou, 514011, Guangdong, PR China

    Yulin Li

  5. Graduate College, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, PR China

    Yunyan Zi

  6. Medical Imaging Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, PR China

    Dailin Rong

  7. Medical Imaging Center, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, 651 Dongfeng Rd E, Guangzhou, 510060, Guangdong, PR China

    Dailin Rong

  8. Department of Radiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 510235, Hunan, PR China

    Yanhui Li

  9. Department of Information Media Industry, Guangzhou Public Utility Technician College, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, PR China

    Xiuhui Li

  10. Department of Pathology, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital/Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, PR China

    Fangping Xu

Authors
  1. Lin Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yulin Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yunyan Zi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Dailin Rong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yanhui Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Xiuhui Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Fangping Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Haijun Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Haijun Wu.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Liu, L., Li, Y., Zi, Y. et al. MRI findings of benign tumors and tumor-like diseases of the tongue with radiologic–pathologic correlation. Jpn J Radiol 41, 19–26 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-022-01329-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-022-01329-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation