Role of dynamic contrast enhanced MR perfusion in differentiation between benign and malignant tumors

Abstract

AimEvaluation of diagnostic accuracy of dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI in differentiating benign from malignant head and neck tumors using both Quantitative and semi quantitative analysis. Patients and methods55 patients with head and neck masses underwent DCEMRI at 1.5T Philips Ingenia MR scanner. Their enhancement curve patterns, Time to peak, wash in and washout rates were analyzed and compared in benign and malignant tumors. Results81.8% of benign tumors had gradual progressing and plateau curves, while 93.3% of malignant tumors had plateau and fast curves. TTP, wash in and wash out rates were significantly different between benign and malignant tumors. Using TTP cut off value of 83.3s differentiated benign from malignant tumors with a sensitivity of 84.8% and specificity of 77.3%, while wash in rate at cut off value of 15.41/s provided a sensitivity of 87.9% and specificity of 90.9%, wash out rates provided at cut off value of 5.751/s, a sensitivity of 81.8% and specificity of 90.9%. ConclusionDynamic contrast enhanced MRI is a promising method for differentiation between benign and malignant head and neck tumors, wash in rate is the most specific parameter used.