Title:Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Differentiating Between Primary Tumor, Metastatic Node and Normal Tissue in Head and Neck Cancer
Volume: 14
Author(s): Liangliang Chen, Yufeng Ye, Hanwei Chen, Shihui Chen, Jinzhao Jiang, Guo Dan*Bingsheng Huang*
Affiliation:
- National-Regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound, Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen,China
- National-Regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound, Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen,China
Keywords:
Head and neck cancer, dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, primary tumor, nodal metastasis,
normal tissue, quantitative analysis.
Abstract: Objective: To study the difference of the Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic
Resonance Imaging (DCE-MRI) parameters among the primary tumor, metastatic node and
peripheral normal tissue of head and neck cancer.
Materials and Methods: Consecutive newly-diagnosed head and neck cancer patients with nodal
metastasis between December 2010 and July 2013 were recruited, and 25 patients (8 females;
24~63, mean 43±11 years old) were enrolled. DCE-MRI was performed in the primary tumor
region including the regional lymph nodes on a 3.0-T MRI system. Three quantitative parameters:
Ktrans (volume transfer constant), ve (volume fraction of extravascular extracellular space) and kep
(the rate constant of contrast transfer) were calculated for the largest node. A repeated-measure
ANOVA with a Greenhouse-Geisser correction and post hoc tests using the Bonferroni correction
were used to evaluate the differences in Ktrans, ve and kep among primary tumors, metastatic nodes
and normal tissue.
Results: The values of both Ktrans and ve of normal tissue differed significantly from those of nodes
(both P < 0.001) and primary tumors (both P < 0.001) respectively, while no significant
differences of Ktrans and ve were observed between nodes and primary tumors (P = 0.075 and 0.365
respectively). The kep values of primary tumors were significantly different from those of nodes (P
= 0.001) and normal tissue (P = 0.002), while no significant differences between nodes and
normal tissue (P > 0.999).
Conclusion: The DCE-MRI parameters were different in the tumors, metastatic nodes and normal
tissue in head and neck cancer. These findings may be useful in the characterization of head and
neck cancer.
