title: Newer MR imaging techniques for head and neck.
abstract: Dynamic and functional imaging techniques are being developed to improve the evaluation of various pathologic processes of the head and neck region. These techniques include dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging for evaluating soft tissue masses and cervical lymph nodes, the use of ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide contrast agent, and functional techniques such as in vivo and in vitro MR spectroscopy of head and neck cancer and lymph nodes and apparent diffusion coefficient mapping of parotid glands. These techniques can help to differentiate nonmalignant tissue from malignant tumors and lymph nodes and can aid in differentiating residual malignancies from postradiation changes. From methodological development, they are making the critical transition to preclinical and clinical validating methods and eventually to widespread clinical tools.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Medical Center, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Room B1 G308, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. gvshah@med.umich.edu
authors.forename: Gaurang V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Nancy J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Fischbein
authors.forename: Rahul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Suresh K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Mukherji
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media; D003911:Dextrans; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D010087:Oxides; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D003911:Dextrans; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D010087:Oxides; C097921:ferumoxtran-10; D007501:Iron; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide