title: Cross-sectional imaging combined with 3D-MR angiography (3D-MRA): diagnostic tool for preoperative vascular assessment of head and neck tumors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Head and neck cancer accounts for 5% of all malignancies worldwide. The presence of lymph node metastases and vascular infiltration influence patient outcome. This prospective study describes the preoperative morphologic assessment of the vascular status of patients with head and neck tumors by means of high spatial resolution and extended coverage of the arterial and venous system reaching from the supra-aortic region to the skull base.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional imaging combined with contrast-enhanced 3D-maximum intensity projection MR angiography (3D-MRA) was applied using a dedicated head and neck coil with a 4-channel panorama array system interface to assess vascular involvement in patients with suspected head and neck cancer. 32 patients underwent preoperative assessment by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The results were then correlated with surgical and histological findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  3 of the 32 patients (9%) demonstrated involvement of the arterial system. In 2 of these 3 cases, MRA correctly predicted the arterial status, while in 1 case it gave a false negative result. 11 of the 32 patients (34%) presented with involvement of the venous system. 10 cases showed complete concordance between the findings of the MR venography and the intraoperative status, while in 1 case a false negative result was produced.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with suspected head and neck tumors, 3D-MRA in combination with cross sectional imaging is a valuable diagnostic tool for the detection of vascular involvement.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Radiology, University Hospital Mannheim, Germany. maliha.sadick@rad.ma.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: Maliha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sadick
authors.forename: Haneen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sadick
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hörmann
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Düber
authors.forename: Steffen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Diehl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019412:Anatomy, Cross-Sectional / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019043:Vascular Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*