An exploratory study into the role of dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI metrics as predictors of response in head and neck cancers

AIM: To assess the efficacy of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE MRI) in prediction of the response to treatment in patients with head and neck cancers (HNCs). METHODS AND MATERIALS: Twenty-one patients with advanced HNC, suitable for concurrent chemoradiotherapy underwent DCE MRI, for the quantification of blood flow (BF) and volume (BV). All the patients received radical doses of conventionally fractionated radiotherapy up to a dose of 70 Gy along with concurrent weekly cisplatin. RESULTS: The values of BV and BF were higher in complete responders as compared to partial responders at primary as well as nodes. Both BF and BV were found to be significantly higher in patients with high T-stage as compared to patients with lower T-stage. CONCLUSIONS: DCE metrics can be used as a predictor of response to treatment in locally advanced HNCs after validation of these observations in a larger number of patients. (C) 2012 The Royal College of Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.