The efficacy of MRI with ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide particles (USPIO) in head and neck cancers.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The objective was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compared to plain MRI in patients with a clinical N+ neck using histology as a gold standard.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Twenty-eight patients underwent unenhanced and USPIO-enhanced MRI using T1-weighted spin echo (SE) sequences and high resolution Turbo-Spin-Echo (TSE) T2-weighted sequences, as well as T2-weighted Gradient Echo (GE) sequences in axial and sagittal slice orientation. The signal intensity (SI) decrease was measured by a region of interest evaluation and visual analysis was performed.

RESULTS:

Histopathological evaluation of 363 lymph nodes revealed 34 as metastatic. USPIO MRI detected 28 metastases (sensitivity 82.3%) and 329 non-metastatic lymph nodes (specificity 100%). Regarding lymph node size, USPIO MRI was correct in all patients who underwent surgery. One lymph node with microinfiltration of tumor cells was detected by USPIO MRI.

CONCLUSION:

There were no side-effects during or after application of the contrast agent. This study confirms the efficacy of MRI with USPIO in patients with head and neck cancer. USPIO-enhanced MRI could have an important effect on surgery planning. Because of its high specificity, USPIO-enhanced MRI seems to be a diagnostic modality able to differentiate borderline-sized lymph nodes.

• Authors: Mehran Baghi, Martin G Mack, Markus Hambek, Joerg Rieger, Thomas Vogl, Wolfgang Gstoettner, Rainald Knecht
• Journal: Anticancer research (Anticancer Res) 2005 Sep-Oct Vol. 25 Issue 5 Pg. 3665-70 ISSN: 0250-7005 [Print] Greece
• PMID: 16101198 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Ferric Compounds
• ferric oxide

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Female
• Ferric Compounds
• Head and Neck Neoplasms (diagnosis, pathology)
• Humans
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (methods)
• Magnetics
• Male
• Middle Aged