A new method using MRI to delineate areas of head and neck cancer targeted by intra-arterial infusion via a superficial temporal artery

To determine whether anticancer drugs delivered via arterial infusion can permeate entire tumors using a new MRI flow check method. We infused 20 ml of contrast medium (2 ml of Gd-GDPA plus 18 ml of normal saline) over a period of 10 min using a continuous injection pump, then immediately performed MRI using a 1.5 T unit. Images were obtained in 5-mm-thick continuous sections in two or three planes (axial, coronal, and sagittal) depending on the extent of the tumor, and enhanced fast gradient echo 3 D (EFGRE3D) images with a special inversion at lipids were photographed using a neurovascular array coil. The new MRI flow check method delineated an area of tongue cancer perfused with drugs more accurately than conventional methods.The MRI flow check method provides accurate information about areas of arterial infusion.