Prediction of nodal metastasis in head and neck cancer using a 3T MRI ADC MAP

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The detection of cervical nodal metastases is important for the prognosis and treatment of head and neck tumors. The purpose of this study was to assess the ability of ADC values at 3T to distinguish malignant from benign lymph nodes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From July 2009 to June 2010, twenty-two patients (21 men and 1 woman; mean age, 49.8 ± 9.5 years; age range, 28-66 years) scheduled for surgical treatment of biopsy-proved head and neck cancer were prospectively and consecutively enrolled in this study. All patients were scanned on a 3T imaging unit (Verio) by using a 12-channel head coil combined with a 4-channel neck coil. Histologic findings were the reference standard for the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis. RESULTS: The ADC values derived from the signal intensity averaged across images obtained with b-values of 0 and 800 s/mm2 were 1.086±0.222 10-3mm2/s for benign lymph nodes and 0.705±0.118 10-3mm2/s for malignant lymph nodes (P