Role of Diffusion Weighted Imaging in Differentiating Benign from Malignant Head and Neck Tumors

Haney Heneidy

doi:10.11648/j.ijmi.20160401.11

Abstract

Head and neck mass is considered to be a relatively common finding in adult and pediatric patients and can present a difficult diagnostic challenge. Differentiation of benign head and neck tumors from malignant lesions are important for treatment strategy as well as for predicting prognosis of malignant tumors. The aim of this work is to review the role of diffusion MRI scan in differentiation between benign and malignant head and neck masses This study was performed on 72 patients (30 men and 42 women aged from 13 years to 85 years, mean age of 51 years) with head and neck mass, in the period from September 2012 until May 2014. We found that DWI is a reliable noninvasive imaging tool to help in differentiation between malignant and benign head and neck lesions and also to identify the tumor-free soft tissue in patients with head and neck neoplasms. It could be performed with conventional MR systems in few minutes time, Further studies on larger number of patients is required to assess if such a technique should be implemented routinely with conventional MRI scan.

Highlights

Head and neck mass is a considered to be a relatively frequent pathology in adult and pediatric patients with the Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma as the fifth cancer worldwide to date
This study was performed on 72 patients (30 men and 42 women aged from 13 years to 85 years, mean age of 51 years) with head and neck mass, in the period from September 2012 until May 2014
It is clear that water molecules can move more freely in fluid than in solid tissues, it is generally accepted that the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value of cystic lesions is higher than that of solid lesions, ADC value estimation is useful in definition of normal and pathological tissue, It is no surprise that the mean ADC values in benign nodules are higher due to the increased mobility of water proton. [11, 12]

Summary

Introduction

Head and neck mass is a considered to be a relatively frequent pathology in adult and pediatric patients with the Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma as the fifth cancer worldwide to date. Getting an adequate demarcation between benign and malignant head and neck tumors is a fundamental requirement in proper management of those lesions and in estimating the future planes for them. Fine needle aspiration biopsy is the commonest diagnostic test for differentiating between benign and malignant head and neck lesions. Side effects of tissue sampling is invasive and may not be representative of the entire tumor and carries the hazards of hemorrhage infection, and seeding along the needle tract [1, 2]. Routine T1 and T2 MR are not sufficient to diagnose reliably if the tumor is benign or malignant. In spite of the invasive nature of the biopsy and its false positive or negative results, it is commonly used to resolve that problem of benignity or malignancy as a decisive tools to differentiate head and neck lesions. In spite of the invasive nature of the biopsy and its false positive or negative results, it is commonly used to resolve that problem of benignity or malignancy as a decisive tools to differentiate head and neck lesions. [2, 3]

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