Perfusion computed tomography for monitoring induction chemotherapy in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract: correlation between changes in tumor perfusion and tumor volume.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the potential of perfusion computed tomography (CTp) for monitoring induction chemotherapy in patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCCA) of the upper aerodigestive tract.


METHODS
Twenty-five patients with advanced SCCA underwent CTp and volumetric CT before and after induction chemotherapy. Perfusion CT parameters were calculated in the tumor, normal tissue, and muscles and correlated with tumor volume.


RESULTS
The blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), and permeability surface were significantly higher, and the mean transit time was significantly lower in the tumor than in the normal tissue. The tumor BF and BV significantly decreased, and the mean transit time significantly increased after the therapy; decrease in BF and BV correlated with tumor volume reduction after chemotherapy. The baseline tumor BV was significantly lower in nonresponders compared with that in responders.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with SCCA, CTp showed potential for monitoring induction chemotherapy, reduction in tumor BF and BV correlated with reduction of tumor volume after chemotherapy, and baseline tumor BV may predict response to chemotherapy.
Petralia
Giuseppe
G
Department of Radiology, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy. giuseppe.petralia@ieo.it
Preda
Lorenzo
L
Giugliano
Gioacchino
G
Jereczek-Fossa
Barbara A
BA
Rocca
Andrea
A
D'Andrea
Gabriele
G
Holalkere
Nagaraj Setty
NS
Chiesa
Fausto
F
Bellomi
Massimo
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001810:Blood Volume; D002199:Capillary Permeability; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D003287:Contrast Media; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055420:Perfusion Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D047368:Tumor Burden
D003287:Contrast Media