Weill Cornell Medicine
Citigroup Biomedical Imaging Center
Weill Cornell Medicine
Citigroup Biomedical Imaging Center

Diffusion-weighted imaging in head and neck cancers.

Publication Type Review
Authors Chawla S, Kim S, Wang S, Poptani H
Journal Future Oncol
Volume 5
Issue 7
Pagination 959-75
Date Published 09/01/2009
ISSN 1744-8301
Keywords Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Head and Neck Neoplasms
Abstract This article reviews the utility of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring of treatment response in tumors arising in the head and neck region. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value, determined from DWI, can help in cancer staging and detection of subcentimeter nodal metastasis. The ADC value also discriminates carcinomas from lymphomas, benign lesions from malignant tumors and tumor necrosis from abscesses. Low pretreatment ADC values typically predict a favorable response to chemoradiation therapy. These promising reports indicate the potential of DWI as a potential biomarker for diagnosis and monitoring of treatment response in head and neck cancers. In view of the overlapping ADC values between different salivary gland tumors, care should be taken when interpreting these results and other imaging parameters should be considered for a better diagnosis. Susceptibility and motion-induced artifacts may sometimes degrade DWI image quality; however, novel techniques are being developed to overcome these drawbacks.
DOI 10.2217/fon.09.77
PubMed ID 19792966
PubMed Central ID PMC2791671
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