Ahmed Abdel Razek MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Nadia Nada, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To evaluate the utility of arterial spin labeling perfusion weighted MR imaging in differentiating malignant from benign tumors of head and neck. 

Prospective study was done upon 37 patients (23M, 14F aged 28-72 ys: mean 49ys) with head and neck solid masses at 1.5 Tesla scanner (Ingenia Philips Nederland). Routine pre and post contrast and diffusion weighted MR imaging of head and neck region were done for all patients. Multi-phases arterial spin labeling with FEEPI sequence was applied. The applied scanning parameters: TR = 2500 ms, TE =20 ms, flip angle =35degress, slice thickness = 6 mm, interslice gap=1 mm, NEX=1, FOV=25 cm X 20 cm, SENSE factor=2.5 and scanning time=4 minutes. There was reconstruction of 1200 source images. The tumor blood volume (TBV) parametric perfusion maps were reconstructed from source images. The regional tumor blood volume (rTBV) were calculated and correlated with pathological findings.

There was a statistically significant difference in (rTBV) between malignant tumors and benign lesions of head and neck (P=0.001). Also, there was significant difference (P=0.001) in rTBV between well and moderately differentiated malignancy versus poorly and undifferentiated head and neck malignancy. The rTBV was correlated with ADC value (r=0.879). Selection a threshold of rTBV for differentiating malignant from benign tumors results in area under the curve of 0.863, accuracy of 87%, sensitivity of 82%, specificity of 78%, positive predictive value of 83% and negative predictive value of 86%. 

We concluded that arterial spin labeling perfusion weighted MR imaging is a non-invasive imaging technique that can play a role in differentiation malignant from benign tumors of head and neck.

Arterial spin labeling MR imaging is a non-invasive imaging technique may differentiate malignant tumors of head and neck from benign lesions. So, it can be added into routine MR imaging of head and neck 

Abdel Razek, A, Nada, N, Arterial Spin Labeling Perfusion MR Imaging of Head and Neck Tumors: A Pilot Study.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14000311.html