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.