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

The purpose of this study is to see how the brain re-learns to control the tongue in speaking and swallowing when either portions of the tongue have been removed, or when the tongue has been treated with radiation, in order to treat cancer. We hope the results of this study will help us to improve healing for patients who are being treated for cancer of the tongue. When patients with cancer of the tongue are treated by removing parts of the tongue (surgery) or by destroying the cancer with radiation to the tongue, they have significant difficulty speaking and swallowing after such treatments. At this time, patients who have been treated for cancer of the tongue re-learn speaking and swallowing through exercises taught by a speech pathologist. What is needed is information on how the brain re-learns to control speaking and swallowing so that we can help these patients re-learn faster after their treatments.