Noriyuki Fujima MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Daisuke Yoshida, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Tomohiro Sakashita, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Akihiro Homma, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Akiko Tsukahara MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Satoshi Terae MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

An arterial spin-labeling (ASL) technique can provides functional information in assessing various tumors. The aim of this study was to detect the viability change of head and neck cancer by measuring tumor perfusion before and after the treatment.

Eighteen patients with head and neck cancer were evaluated by ASL before and after the treatment. Each patient was treated by non-operative treatment (superselective cisplatin infusion with concomitant radiotherapy in 16, systemic chemotherapy in 1, radiotherapy alone in 1). All MR scanning were performed on a 3.0-Tesla unit (Philips, Achieva with 16 channel neurovascular coil). As an ASL sequence, EPI signal targeting by alternating radiofrequency pulses (EPI STAR) with look-locker readout method was used. Before the treatment, tumor blood flow (TBF) was quantitatively measured. After the treatment, tissue blood flow of post-treatment sequelae (BF-PTS) was also quantitatively measured. All patients were observed at least six month after the treatment to confirm whether residual tumor was remained or not by checking its change in size. For the statistical analysis, paired t-test was used for the comparison between pre-treatment TBF and BF-PTS. Non paired t-test was used for the comparison between BF-PTS with and without tumor residence.

Fourteen patients had no residual tumor, and four patients had residual tumor after the treatment. Average of TBF and BF-PTS was 75.2 ml/100g/min and a 16.5 ml/100g/min, respectively. There was significant difference between TBF and BF-PTS (p < 0.001). After the treatment, BF-PTS with and without residual tumor was 35.3 ml/100g/min and 11.1 ml/100g/min respectively. BF-PTS with tumor residence was significantly higher than that with no tumor residence (p<0.01).

Treatment efficacy can be evaluated by ASL with regional perfusion measurement as functional information in head and neck cancer.

Treatment efficacy can be evaluated by ASL with regional perfusion measurement in head and neck cancer.

Fujima, N, Yoshida, D, Sakashita, T, Homma, A, Tsukahara, A, Terae, S, Arterial Spin-labeling for Detection of Tumor Viability in Head and Neck Cancer before and after the Treatment.  Radiological Society of North America 2011 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 2, 2011 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2011/11034486.html