title: Pre- and post-radiotherapy MRI results as a predictive model for response in laryngeal carcinoma.
abstract: The purpose was to determine if pre-radiotherapy (RT) and/or post-radiotherapy magnetic resonance (MR) imaging can predict response in patients with laryngeal carcinoma treated with RT. Pre- and post-RT MR examinations of 80 patients were retrospectively reviewed and associated with regard to local control. Pre-RT MR imaging parameters such as tumor involvement of specific laryngeal anatomic subsites including laryngeal cartilages and post-RT changes, i.e., complete resolution of the tumor or focal mass/asymmetric obliteration of laryngeal tissue and signal pattern on T2-weighted images, were evaluated. Local control was defined as absence of a recurrence at the primary site for 2 years. Local control rates based on pretreatment MR findings were 73% for low pre-RT risk-profile and 29% for high pre-RT risk-profile patients (p=0.0001). Based on posttreatment MR findings, local control rates were 100% score 1, 64% score 2, and 4% score 3 (p<0.0001). Using post-RT T2-weighted images, significant association was found between differences in signal pattern and local control: 77% hypointense, 54% isointense and 15% hyperintense lesions (p<0.001). Differences between means of delay of post-MRI examination were significantly associated with regard to local control (p=0.003); recurrent tumors followed 5 months after RT were more easily detectable on MRI than recurrent tumors within 4 months after RT. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, negative and positive predictive values of post-RT score 3 were 96%, 76%, 83%, 98% and 66%. Pre- and post-RT MRI evaluation of the larynx can identify patients at high risk for developing local failure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV Amsterdam, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam. The Netherlands, Redina.Ljumanovic@vumc.nl
authors.forename: Redina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ljumanovic
authors.forename: Johannes A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Langendijk
authors.forename: Otto S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Hoekstra
authors.forename: Dirk L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Knol
authors.forename: C René
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Leemans
authors.forename: Jonas A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Castelijns
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016896:Treatment Outcome