Head and neck neoplasms: magnetization transfer analysis.
OBJECTIVE
Magnetization transfer (MT) imaging enables analysis of the contribution of restricted motion protons in the macromolecular pool to magnetic resonance (MR) signal intensity. The authors undertook this study to determine whether MT ratios (MTRs) could be used to predict pathologic characteristics of head and neck neoplasms.


METHODS
Fifty-four patients with pathologically proved neoplasms (squamous cell carcinomas, n = 33; non-squamous cell carcinomas, n = 11; benign masses, n = 10) underwent MT imaging. MTRs were correlated with pathologic findings.


RESULTS
No statistically significant correlations were noted between MTRs and degree of differentiation, keratinization, cells per high-power field, and rate of mitosis. Statistically significant differences were found between MTRs of malignancies and muscle (P < .01), cerebrospinal fluid (P < .001), fat (P < .001), and benign neoplasms (P < .001). MTRs of muscle were higher than those of benign, squamous cell, and non-squamous cell neoplasms.


CONCLUSIONS
MT imaging shows promise in differentiation of benign from malignant head and neck neoplasms. No statistically significant differences in MTRs were noted among malignancies.
Yousem
D M
DM
Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
Montone
K T
KT
Sheppard
L M
LM
Rao
V M
VM
Weinstein
G S
GS
Hayden
R E
RE
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011446:Prospective Studies