title: Differences in extension patterns between adenoid cystic carcinoma of the nasopharynx and nasopharyngeal carcinoma on MRI.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to map differences in extension patterns between adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the nasopharynxandnasopharyngeal carcinomaon magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and provide more information for treatments.
  
  
  METHODS
  MRI examinations and clinical records were reviewed in 18 patients with ACC of the nasopharynx and 182 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). All patients had biopsy to confirm diagnosis. Differences between NPC and ACC in terms of extension patterns were identified by the retrospective analysis of images from patients undergoing MRI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with ACC of the nasopharynx obtained a higher rate of staging T4 (14.3% vs. 38.9%, P = 0.007) and paralyzed cranial nerves (6.0% vs. 38.9%, P < 0.001). Epstein-Barr (EB) virus infection was not correlated with ACC incidence. No significant difference was observed in invasion to skull base between ACC of the nasopharynx and NPC (53.3% vs. 66.7%, P = 0.277). Involvement of cranial nerve canal (32.4% vs. 55.6%, P = 0.049) and cavernous sinus (13.7% vs. 33.3%, P = 0.028) was more frequently detected by MRI on patients with ACC of the nasopharynx. Lymph node metastasis was infrequently diagnosed in patients with ACC of the nasopharynx.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As seen on MRI images, ACC of the nasopharynx is characterized by a high incidence of perineural invasion, frequent and aggressive local infiltration, and infrequently, lymph node metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of VIP Patients, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine East Dong Feng Road 651, Guangzhou 510060, Guangdong, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging and Interventional Radiology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine East Dong Feng Road 651, Guangzhou 510060, Guangdong, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging and Interventional Radiology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine East Dong Feng Road 651, Guangzhou 510060, Guangdong, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging and Interventional Radiology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine East Dong Feng Road 651, Guangzhou 510060, Guangdong, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yunxian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging and Interventional Radiology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine East Dong Feng Road 651, Guangzhou 510060, Guangdong, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Lizhi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging and Interventional Radiology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine East Dong Feng Road 651, Guangzhou 510060, Guangdong, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000556:secondary*; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077274:Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adenoid cystic carcinoma; MRI; extension patterns; nasopharyngeal carcinoma; paralyzed cranial nerve