Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in Head and Neck Cancer: differentiation of new H&N cancer, recurrent disease, and benign post-treatment changes

PurposeTo determine if dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters such as permeability surface area (PS) and blood volume (BV) allow differentiating between new head and neck (HN) cancer, recurrent HN cancer, and post-treatment benign changes.MethodA total of 35 patients with newly diagnosed, recurrent, and benign post-treatment benign changes underwent DCE-MRI. PS and BV were calculated.ResultsPS values of the lesion were 2.3×104± 5.8×104 for the newly diagnosed cancer group, 3.3×104± 1.7×104 for the recurrent cancer group, and 4.8×104± 8.1×104 for the post-treatment benign change group (P= .031).ConclusionPost-treatment benign changes in the HN region had significantly high permeability property than newly diagnosed or previously treated recurrent tumor.