title: Predictive value of pre-treatment apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in radio-chemiotherapy treated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed at evaluating the role of "baseline" apparent diffusion coefficent (ADC), in patients affected by head and neck cancer treated with radio-chemotherapy, as a potential marker of response to therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-seven patients underwent pretreatment ADC maps. Minimum, maximum, and medium ADC were computed. Age, dose, treatment time, and ADC values were compared between the two groups (Group 1: local control; Group 2: relapse/persistence of disease) using the Student t test two-tailed unpaired. Two-tailed Fischer exact test was used to compare T stage, N stage, grading and type of treatment between two groups. We have analyzed the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) of statistically significant variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In patients with local control, values of pre-treatment medium and minimum ADC were lower than ADC values of patients with persistent or recurrent disease, with values, respectively, of 0.83 ± 0.02 × 10-3mm2/s and 0.59 ± 0.02 × 10-3mm2/s (vs 0.94 ± 0.05 × 10-3mm2/s and 0.70 ± 0.05 × 10-3mm2/s). ROC curve analysis displayed statistical significance as regarding the medium ADC value, showing a sensitivity of 50% and a specificity of 84.8%. ROC analysis of the values minimum ADC showed a sensitivity of 42.9% and specificity of 87.9%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The value of the ADC pre-treatment of patients with local control of the disease is lower than that of patients with persistent disease or recurrence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Maggiore della Carità University Hospital, University of Eastern Piedmont, Corso Mazzini 18, 28100, Novara, Italy. mariangela.lombardi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mariangela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lombardi
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Maggiore della Carità University Hospital, University of Eastern Piedmont, Corso Mazzini 18, 28100, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cascone
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Maggiore della Carità University Hospital, University of Eastern Piedmont, Corso Mazzini 18, 28100, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Guenzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Maggiore della Carità University Hospital, University of Eastern Piedmont, Corso Mazzini 18, 28100, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stecco
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Maggiore della Carità University Hospital, University of Eastern Piedmont, Corso Mazzini 18, 28100, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Buemi
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, "Maggiore della Carità" University Hospital, University of Eastern Piedmont, Corso Mazzini 18, 28100, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krengli
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Maggiore della Carità University Hospital, University of Eastern Piedmont, Corso Mazzini 18, 28100, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carriero
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Baseline apparent diffusion coefficent (ADC); Diffusion; Early response; Head and neck cancer; Radio-chemotherapy