Qi Yong Ai1, Ann D. King1, Benjamin King Hong Law1, Lok Yiu Sheila Wong1, Kunwar S. Bhatia1, David Ka Wai Yeung2, and Brigette B.Y. Ma2
1Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, 2Department of Clinical Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
This
study evaluated pre-treatment diffusion weighted imaging of primary nasopharyngeal
carcinoma for the prediction of patients at risk of distant metastases, based
on long-term follow-up for at least 5 years. Analysis was performed of ADC
parameters using histogram analysis (ADCmean, ADCskewness and ADCkurtosis),
together with stage and volume of the primary tumour and nodes. Multivariate
analysis showed pre-treatment ADCskewness, T stage and nodal volume
were significant ( p =0.026, 0.022 and 0.005, respectively), distant metastases being more likely in patients with
tumours with ADC values skewed toward the higher ADC range, and higher T stage
and nodal volume.
