MRI in recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
In this study, we retrospectively reviewed the MRI features of recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in 72 patients who underwent MRI before and after gadolinium injection. Recurrent NPC exhibited a high degree of regional spread and a variety of signal intensities and contours. MRI showed a nasopharyngeal mass in 50 patients (69.4 %); other sites of involvement included the parapharyngeal space (44.4 %), nasal cavity (12.5 %), paranasal sinuses (27.8 %), oropharynx (4.2 %), orbit (8.3 %), infratemporal fossa (18.1 %), skull base (59.8 %), intracranial area (51.4 %) and regional lymph nodes (15.3 %). On T2-weighted images, the nasopharyngeal mass gave high signal in 9 of 50 cases (18 %), intermediate in 27 (54 %), mixed in 8 (16 %) and low signal in 6 (12 %). Contrast enhancement was strong in 12 cases (24 %), moderate in 29 (58 %) and heterogeneous in 9 (18 %). The lesion was convex in 31 cases (62 %) and concave or straight in 19 (38 %). Recognition of the distribution and the appearance of recurrent NPC on MRI is essential for timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Ng
S H
SH
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Chang Gung Medical College and Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 5 Fu-Shing Street, Kwei Shan, Tao Yuan, Taiwan. shng@adm.cgmh.com.tw
Chang
J T
JT
Ko
S F
SF
Wan
Y L
YL
Tang
L M
LM
Chen
W C
WC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000473:pathology; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D010255:Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019292:Skull Base Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D012888:Skull Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis
D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA