Improving Therapeutic Outcomes in the Tongue Carcinoma Patient: Assessment of Adaptation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Diffusion Tensor Imaging

Inclusion Criteria:

Inclusion criteria for the tongue carcinoma patients:

• Primary malignancy of the oral or base of tongue, Stage I-IV of AJCC staging system, planned for surgical or radiation therapy.

Inclusion criteria for the healthy subjects:

• Healthy adult subjects between the ages of 21-75 years.

Exclusion Criteria:

Exclusion criteria for the tongue carcinoma patients include the following:

• History of significant psychiatric condition (e.g. schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, significant dementia),
• History of the following neurological conditions: CVA, seizure disorders, demyelinating conditions, systemic neuromuscular disorders, cerebral palsy, Alzheimer's disease.
• History of previous moderate to severe traumatic brain injury.
• History of significant cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal or renal disease (e.g.myocardial infarction within the previous 12 months, significant vaso-occlusive disease,severe or advanced asthma, COPD, emphysema, gastroesophageal reflux disease, or renal compromise)
• History of achalasia
• History of other neoplasms involving the brain, head and neck, or gastrointestinal system.
• History of dysphagia, odynophagia, or aphasia unrelated to present illness.
• History of significant claustrophobic reactions.
• Standard contraindications to MR examinations (e.g. implanted stimulators).

Exclusion criteria for the healthy subjects includes the all of the conditions listed for the tongue:

• Carcinoma patients and additionally includes history of significant surgery or previous radiation therapy to the head and neck
• Previous history of dysphagia, odynophagia, aphasia, pregnancy,and standard contraindications to MR examinations.