Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MR Imaging in Head and Neck Cancer

Abstract

Dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MR imaging uses rapid sequential MR image acquisition before, during, and after intravenous contrast administration to elucidate information on the microvascular biologic function of tissues. The derived pharmacokinetic parameters provide useful information on tissue perfusion and permeability that may help to evaluate entities that otherwise appear similar by conventional imaging. When specifically applied to the evaluation of head and neck cancer, DCE-MR imaging may provide valuable information to help predict treatment response, discriminate between posttreatment changes and residual tumor, and discriminate between various head and neck neoplasms.

Keywords: Dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging (DCE-MR imaging); Head and neck cancer (HNC); K(trans); Perfusion; Permeability; Squamous cell cancer (SCC); Time intensity curve (TIC); Treatment response.