The Role and Utility of Diffusion-Weighted Imaging in Assessment of Head and Neck Tumors: A Review Article

Abstract

Conventional MRI and CT are the chosen imaging modalities when evaluating head and neck cancers; however, sometimes both diagnostic tools yield low sensitivity and accuracy in making the diagnosis, staging, and assessing the post-treatment response. This article reviews the role and utility of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in assessing head and neck cancer. DWI is a technique which analyzes the structures of biologic tissues at a microscopic level. Apparent diffusion coefficient value, determined from DWI, can help detect the differences in the microstructures of tumor tissues and nontumor tissues. Therefore, DWI is a useful technique in a clinical practice, which provides information of histopathological characterization, differential diagnosis, and stage of head and neck cancer and assessment of treatment response.