Daniel P. Noij

Diffusion-Weighted Imaging of the Head and Neck in Healthy Subjects: Reproducibility of ADC Values in Different MRI Systems and Repeat Sessions

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: DWI is typically performed with EPI sequences in single-center studies. The purpose of this study was to determine the reproducibility of ADC values in the head and neck region in healthy subjects. In addition, the reproducibility of ADC values in different tissues was assessed to identify the most suitable reference tissue. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively studied 7 healthy subjects, with EPI and TSE sequences, on 5 MR imaging systems at 3 time points in 2 institutions. ADC maps of EPI (with 2 b-values and 6 b-values) and TSE sequences were compared. Mean ADC values for different tissues (submandibular gland, sternocleidomastoid muscle, spinal cord, subdigastric lymph node, and tonsil) were used to evaluate intra- and intersubject, intersystem, and intersequence variability by using a linear mixed model. RESULTS: On 97% of images, a region of interest could be placed on the spinal cord, compared with 87% in the tonsil. ADC values derived from EPI-DWI with 2 b-values and calculated EPI-DWI with 2 b-values extracted from EPI-DWI with 6 b-values did not differ significantly. The standard error of ADC measurement was the smallest for the tonsil and spinal cord (standard error of measurement = 151.2 × 10−6 mm/s2 and 190.1 × 10−6 mm/s2, respectively). The intersystem difference for mean ADC values and the influence of the MR imaging system on ADC values among the subjects were statistically significant (P < .001). The mean difference among examinations was negligible (ie, <10 × 10−6 mm/s2). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the spinal cord was the most appropriate reference tissue and EPI-DWI with 6 b-values was the most reproducible sequence. ADC values were more precise if subjects were measured on the same MR imaging system and with the same sequence. ADC values differed significantly between MR imaging systems and sequences.

Diagnostic Performance of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Computed Tomography for Advanced Retinoblastoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

PURPOSE To determine and compare the diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) for the diagnosis of tumor extent in advanced retinoblastoma, using histopathologic analysis as the reference standard. DESIGN Systematic review and meta-analysis. PARTICIPANTS Patients with advanced retinoblastoma who underwent MRI, CT, or both for the detection of tumor extent from published diagnostic accuracy studies. METHODS Medline and Embase were searched for literature published through April 2013 assessing the diagnostic performance of MRI, CT, or both in detecting intraorbital and extraorbital tumor extension of retinoblastoma. Diagnostic accuracy data were extracted from included studies. Summary estimates were based on a random effects model. Intrastudy and interstudy heterogeneity were analyzed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Sensitivity and specificity of MRI and CT in detecting tumor extent. RESULTS Data of the following tumor-extent parameters were extracted: anterior eye segment involvement and ciliary body, optic nerve, choroidal, and (extra)scleral invasion. Articles on MRI reported results of 591 eyes from 14 studies, and articles on CT yielded 257 eyes from 4 studies. The summary estimates with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the diagnostic accuracy of conventional MRI at detecting postlaminar optic nerve, choroidal, and scleral invasion showed sensitivities of 59% (95% CI, 37%-78%), 74% (95% CI, 52%-88%), and 88% (95% CI, 20%-100%), respectively, and specificities of 94% (95% CI, 84%-98%), 72% (95% CI, 31%-94%), and 99% (95% CI, 86%-100%), respectively. Magnetic resonance imaging with a high (versus a low) image quality showed higher diagnostic accuracies for detection of prelaminar optic nerve and choroidal invasion, but these differences were not statistically significant. Studies reporting the diagnostic accuracy of CT did not provide enough data to perform any meta-analyses. CONCLUSIONS Magnetic resonance imaging is an important diagnostic tool for the detection of local tumor extent in advanced retinoblastoma, although its diagnostic accuracy shows room for improvement, especially with regard to sensitivity. With only a few-mostly old-studies, there is very little evidence on the diagnostic accuracy of CT, and generally these studies show low diagnostic accuracy. Future studies assessing the role of MRI in clinical decision making in terms of prognostic value for advanced retinoblastoma are needed.

Predictive value of diffusion-weighted imaging without and with including contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in image analysis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVES To assess disease-free survival (DFS) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) treated with (chemo)radiotherapy ([C]RT). METHODS Pretreatment MR-images of 78 patients were retrospectively studied. Apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) were calculated with two sets of two b-values: 0-750s/mm(2) (ADC750) and 0-1000s/mm(2) (ADC1000). One observer assessed tumor volume on T1-WI. Two independent observers assessed ADC-values of primary tumor and largest lymph node in two sessions (i.e. without and with including CE-T1WI in image analysis). Interobserver and intersession agreement were assessed with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) separately for ADC750 and ADC1000. Lesion volumes and ADC-values were related to DFS using Cox regression analysis. RESULTS Median follow-up was 18 months. Interobserver ICC was better without than with CE-T1WI (primary tumor: 0.92 and 0.75-0.83, respectively; lymph node: 0.81-0.83 and 0.61-0.64, respectively). Intersession ICC ranged from 0.84 to 0.89. With CE-T1WI, mean ADC-values of primary tumor and lymph node were higher at both b-values than without CE-T1WI (P<0.001). Tumor volume (sensitivity: 73%; specificity: 57%) and lymph node ADC1000 (sensitivity: 71-79%; specificity: 77-79%) were independent significant predictors of DFS without and with including CE-T1WI (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Pretreatment primary tumor volume and lymph node ADC1000 were significant independent predictors of DFS in HNSCC treated with (C)RT. DFS could be predicted from ADC-values acquired without and with including CE-T1WI in image analysis. The inclusion of CE-T1WI did not result in significant improvements in the predictive value of DWI. DWI without including CE-T1WI was highly reproducible.

Contrast-enhanced perfusion magnetic resonance imaging for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review.

This systematic review gives an extensive overview of the current state of perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Pubmed and Embase were searched for literature until July 2014 assessing the diagnostic and prognostic performance of perfusion-weighted MRI in HNSCC. Twenty-one diagnostic and 12 prognostic studies were included for qualitative analysis. Four studies used a T2(∗) sequence for dynamic susceptibility (DSC)-MRI, 29 studies used T1-based sequences for dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE)-MRI. Included studies suffered from a great deal of heterogeneity in study methods showing a wide range of diagnostic and prognostic performance. Therefore we could not perform any useful meta-analysis. Perfusion-weighted MRI shows potential in some aspects of diagnosing HNSCC and predicting prognosis. Three studies reported significant correlations between hypoxia and tumor heterogeneity in perfusion parameters (absolute correlation coefficient |ρ|>0.6, P<0.05). Two studies reported synergy between perfusion-weighted MRI and positron emission tomography (PET) parameters. Four studies showed a promising role for response prediction early after the start of chemoradiotherapy. In two studies perfusion-weighted MRI was useful in the detection of residual disease. However more research with uniform study and analysis protocols with larger sample sizes is needed before perfusion-weighted MRI can be used in clinical practice.

Whole-body-MR imaging including DWIBS in the work-up of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: A feasibility study

OBJECTIVES To assess the feasibility of whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) including diffusion-weighted whole-body imaging with background-body-signal-suppression (DWIBS) for the evaluation of distant malignancies in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC); and to compare WB-MRI findings with (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ((18)F-FDG-PET/CT) and chest-CT. METHODS Thirty-three patients with high risk for metastatic spread (26 males; range 48-79 years, mean age 63 ± 7.9 years (mean ± standard deviation) years) were prospectively included with a follow-up of six months. WB-MRI protocol included short-TI inversion recovery and T1-weighted sequences in the coronal plane and half-fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin-echo T2 and contrast-enhanced-T1-weighted sequences in the axial plane. Axial DWIBS was reformatted in the coronal plane. Interobserver variability was assessed using weighted kappa and the proportion specific agreement (PA). RESULTS Two second primary tumors and one metastasis were detected on WB-MRI. WB-MRI yielded seven clinically indeterminate lesions which did not progress at follow-up. The metastasis and one second primary tumor were found when combining (18)F-FDG-PET/CT and chest-CT findings. Interobserver variability for WB-MRI was κ=0.91 with PA ranging from 0.82 to 1.00. For (18)F-FDG-PET/CT κ could not be calculated due to a constant variable in the table and PA ranged from 0.40 to 0.99. CONCLUSIONS Our WB-MRI protocol with DWIBS is feasible in the work-up of HNSCC patients for detection and characterization of distant pathology. WB-MRI can be complementary to (18)F-FDG-PET/CT, especially in the detection of non (18)F-FDG avid second primary tumors.

Diffusion-weighted EPI- and HASTE-MRI and 18F-FDG-PET-CT early during chemoradiotherapy in advanced head and neck cancer

MAIN PROBLEM Diffusion-weighted MRI (DW-MRI) has potential to predict chemoradiotherapy (CRT) response in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and is generally performed using echo-planar imaging (EPI). However, EPI-DWI is susceptible to geometric distortions. Half-fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin-echo (HASTE)-DWI may be an alternative. This prospective pilot study evaluates the potential predictive value of EPI- and HASTE-DWI and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET-CT (18F-FDG-PET-CT) early during CRT for locoregional outcome in HNSCC. METHODS Eight patients with advanced HNSCC (7 primary tumors and 25 nodal metastases) scheduled for CRT, underwent DW-MRI (using both EPI- and HASTE-DWI) and 18F-FDG-PET(-CT) pretreatment, early during treatment and three months after treatment. Median follow-up time was 38 months. RESULTS No local recurrences were detected during follow-up. Median Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC)EPI-values in primary tumors increased from 77×10(-5) mm(2)/s pretreatment, to 113×10(-5) mm(2)/s during treatment (P=0.02), whereas ADCHASTE did not increase (74 and 74 mm(2)/s, respectively). Two regional recurrences were diagnosed. During treatment, ADCEPI tended to be higher for patients with regional control [(117.3±12.1)×10(-5) mm(2)/s] than for patients with a recurrence [(98.0±4.2)×10(-5) mm(2)/s]. This difference was not seen with ADCHASTE. No correlations between ΔADCEPI and ΔSUV (Standardized Uptake Value) were found in the primary tumor or nodal metastases. CONCLUSIONS HASTE-DWI seems to be inadequate in early CRT response prediction, compared to EPI-DWI which has potential to predict locoregional outcome. EPI-DWI and 18F-FDG-PET-CT potentially provide independent information in the early response to treatment, since no correlations were found between ΔADCEPI and ΔSUV.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Intraocular Tumor Size Measured with MR Imaging in the Prediction of Postlaminar Optic Nerve Invasion and Massive Choroidal Invasion of Retinoblastoma

Purpose To assess the correlation of intraocular retinoblastoma tumor size measured with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the prediction of histopathologically determined metastatic risk factors (postlaminar optic nerve invasion and massive choroidal invasion). Materials and Methods The ethics committee approved this retrospective multicenter study with a waiver of informed consent. The study population included 370 consecutive patients with retinoblastoma (375 eyes) who underwent baseline MR imaging, followed by primary enucleation from 1993 through 2014. Tumor sizes (maximum diameter and volume) were measured independently by two observers and correlated with histopathologic risk factors. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to analyze the diagnostic accuracy of tumor size, and areas under the curve were calculated. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate potential confounders. Results Receiver operating characteristic analysis of volume and diameter, respectively, yielded areas under the curve of 0.77 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.70, 0.85; P < .0001) and 0.78 (95% CI: 0.71, 0.85; P < .0001) for postlaminar optic nerve invasion (n = 375) and 0.67 (95% CI: 0.57, 0.77; P = .0020) and 0.70 (95% CI: 0.59, 0.80; P = .0004) for massive choroidal tumor invasion (n = 219). For the detection of co-occurring massive choroidal invasion and postlaminar optic nerve invasion (n = 219), volume and diameter showed areas under the curve of 0.81 (95% CI: 0.70, 0.91; P = .0032) and 0.83 (95% CI: 0.73, 0.93; P = .0016), respectively. Conclusion Intraocular tumor size shows a strong association with postlaminar optic nerve invasion and a moderate association with massive choroidal invasion. These findings provide diagnostic accuracy measures at different size cutoff levels, which could potentially be useful in a clinical setting, especially within the scope of the increasing use of eye-salvage treatment strategies. (©) RSNA, 2015 Online supplemental material is available for this article.

Diagnostic value of diffusion-weighted imaging and 18F-FDG-PET/CT for the detection of unknown primary head and neck cancer in patients presenting with cervical metastasis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) may present with cervical metastases without an apparent primary tumor. Detecting the primary tumor results in more targeted treatment. Acquisition of DWI is improving with less artifacts and image distortion. We assessed the diagnostic value of DWI and 18F-FDG-PET/CT for detecting primary tumors in patients presenting with nodal metastasis of an unknown primary HNSCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS For this retrospective study we included 31 patients (male/female ratio = 23/8, median age = 66 years, age range = 40-80 years) who presented with a pathologically proven cervical nodal metastasis from HNSCC without overt primary tumor location between January 2013 and November 2016 and underwent both DWI and 18F-FDG-PET/CT. Both modalities were assessed qualitatively and quantitatively. With ROC analysis we determined the optimal cut-off for imaging parameters in separating occult malignancy from benign tissue. RESULTS Qualitative analysis of MRI including DWI resulted in a sensitivity of 81.3% (95%CI) = 53.7-95.0) and specificity of 73.3% (95%CI = 44.8-91.1). With qualitative scoring of 18F-FDG-PET/CT a sensitivity and specificity of 93.8% (95%CI = 67.8-99.7) and 73.3% (95%CI = 44.8-91.1) were found. With quantitative analysis sensitivity and specificity of SUVmax were 81.3% (95%CI = 53.6-95.0) and 93.3% (95%CI = 66.0-99.7), respectively. Combining DWI and 18F-FDG-PET/CT resulted in a sensitivity of 93.8% (95%CI = 67.7-99.7%) and specificity of 60.0% (95%CI = 32.9-82.5%). CONCLUSION In this study on HNSCC patients presenting with clinically UP lesions the diagnostic accuracy of qualitative analysis with DWI and 18F-FDG-PET/CT and quantitative analysis of 18F-FDG-PET/CT using SUVmax were high. Adding DWI did not improve the accuracy of 18F-FDG-PET/CT.