[Preliminary application of diffusion-weighted imaging with 3.0 T magnetic resonance scanner for nasopharyngeal carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical value of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) with 3.0 T magnetic resonance scanner for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and to explore the appropriate b value during this procedure.


METHODS
Totally 50 patients with histopathologically confirmed NPC and 20 volunteers underwent DWI using single-shot echo-planar imaging technique were enrolled in this study. Four groups of b value (600, 800, 1000 and 1200) were applied. The apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) between the primary tumor of NPC and the metastatic lymph nodes were compared in each group. ADC between the metastatic lymph nodes and benign nodes were also compared.


RESULTS
Although the mean ADC were not significantly different between NPC and those of metastatic cervical lymph nodes in each group, the mean ADC of the metastatic lymph nodes were significantly lower than those of benign nodes (P<0.05). When b value was 800, both satisfying images and accurate measurements were acquired.


CONCLUSIONS
DWI is helpful in the diagnosis of primary lesions and their lymph node metastases of NPC.
Liu
Kan
K
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Cancer Hospital, CAMS and PUMC, Beijing 100021, China.
Ouyang
Han
H
Zhou
Chun-wu
CW
Tao
Hua
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma; D002648:Child; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077274:Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055815:Young Adult