title: MRI in recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Y L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA