Liyan Lu1, Yuehua Li2, Wenbin Li3. 1. Department of Radiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, 200233, China. 2. Department of Radiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, 200233, China. liyuehua312@163.com. 3. Department of Radiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, 200233, China. lwbprofessor@163.com.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Pilot studies have suggested potential clinical applications for intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in head and neck cancers. This study aimed to characterize metastatic lymph nodes using IVIM MRI, and to evaluate the role of IVIM MRI in the prediction of the early treatment response of lymph node metastasis from nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). METHODS: A total of 122 patients with metastatic lymph nodes from NPC underwent two MRI examinations, pre-treatment and post-treatment (at 4 weeks and at ≥2 years from the end of chemoradiotherapy). Treatment response was assessed using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1. Differences in the initial IVIM parameters [pure molecular diffusion (D), pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D*), and perfusion fraction (f)] between nodes with a partial response (PR) and a complete response (CR) were analyzed in 102 patients after the exclusion of 20. RESULTS: The initial D*, D, and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) did not reveal a significant difference between nodes showing a PR or a CR. The mean initial f value was significantly higher in patients with a PR relative to patients with a CR (p = 0.003), and its sensitivity and specificity in predicting treatment response to chemoradiotherapy were 86.7% and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicated that the initial f value may be more accurate than the initial D*, D, and ADC in the early prediction of treatment response to chemoradiotherapy for metastatic lymph nodes in patients with NPC.
INTRODUCTION: Pilot studies have suggested potential clinical applications for intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in head and neck cancers. This study aimed to characterize metastatic lymph nodes using IVIM MRI, and to evaluate the role of IVIM MRI in the prediction of the early treatment response of lymph node metastasis from nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). METHODS: A total of 122 patients with metastatic lymph nodes from NPC underwent two MRI examinations, pre-treatment and post-treatment (at 4 weeks and at ≥2 years from the end of chemoradiotherapy). Treatment response was assessed using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1. Differences in the initial IVIM parameters [pure molecular diffusion (D), pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D*), and perfusion fraction (f)] between nodes with a partial response (PR) and a complete response (CR) were analyzed in 102 patients after the exclusion of 20. RESULTS: The initial D*, D, and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) did not reveal a significant difference between nodes showing a PR or a CR. The mean initial f value was significantly higher in patients with a PR relative to patients with a CR (p = 0.003), and its sensitivity and specificity in predicting treatment response to chemoradiotherapy were 86.7% and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicated that the initial f value may be more accurate than the initial D*, D, and ADC in the early prediction of treatment response to chemoradiotherapy for metastatic lymph nodes in patients with NPC.
Authors: William A Hall; Eric S Paulson; Uulke A van der Heide; Clifton D Fuller; B W Raaymakers; Jan J W Lagendijk; X Allen Li; David A Jaffray; Laura A Dawson; Beth Erickson; Marcel Verheij; Kevin J Harrington; Arjun Sahgal; Percy Lee; Parag J Parikh; Michael F Bassetti; Clifford G Robinson; Bruce D Minsky; Ananya Choudhury; Robert J H A Tersteeg; Christopher J Schultz Journal: Eur J Cancer Date: 2019-10-12 Impact factor: 9.162