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

Purpose: To 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. Method: A total of 35 patients with newly diagnosed, recurrent, and benign post-treatment benign changes underwent DCE-MRI. PS and BV were calculated. Results: PS 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). Conclusion: Post-treatment benign changes in the HN region had significantly high permeability property than newly diagnosed or previously treated recurrent tumor.