Intravoxel incoherent motion MRI: emerging applications for nasopharyngeal carcinoma at the primary site.
OBJECTIVE
We compared pure molecular diffusion (D), perfusion-related diffusion (D*), perfusion fraction (f) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) based on intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) theory in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).


METHODS
Sixty-five consecutive patients (48 men) with suspected NPC were examined using a 3.0-T MR system. Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) was performed with 13 b values (range, 0-800 s/mm(2)). We regarded the result of endoscopy and biopsy as the gold standard for detection. D, D* and f were compared between patients with primary NPC and enlarged adenoids.


RESULTS
IVIM DWI was successful in 37 of 40 NPC and 23 of 25 enlarged adenoids cases. D (P = 0.001) and f (P < 0.0001) were significantly lower in patients with NPC than in patients with enlarged adenoids, whereas D* was significantly higher (P < 0.0001). However, the ADC was not significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.05). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for D was 0.849 and was significantly larger than that for ADC (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
IVIM DWI is a feasible technique for investigating primary NPC. D was significantly decreased in primary NPC, and increased D* reflected increased blood vessel generation and parenchymal perfusion in primary NPC.


CONCLUSIONS
• Intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) analysis permits separate quantification of diffusion and perfusion. • IVIM DWI is a feasible technique for investigating primary NPC. • IVIM suggests that primary NPC tissue voxels exhibit both perfusion and diffusion.
Department of Radiology, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences/Guangdong General Hospital, No. 106 Zhongshan Er Road, 510080, Guangzhou, Guangdong Prov., People's Republic of China.
Shui-xing
SX
Zhang
Qian-jun
QJ
Jia
Zhong-ping
ZP
Zhang
Chang-hong
CH
Liang
Wen-bo
WB
Chen
Qian-hui
QH
Qiu
He
H
Li
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D002277:Carcinoma; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009038:Motion; D000077274:Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055815:Young Adult
D003287:Contrast Media