Correlation of humanpapilloma virus status with quantitative perfusion/diffusion MRI parameters and metabolic 18F-FDG-PET parameters  in oral cavity and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma : Comparison between primary tumor lesions and metastatic lymph nodes

We evaluated association between perfusion/diffusion MRI parameters, metabolic ¹⁸F-FDG PET parameters and HPV status in not only primary oral cavity-oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma but also its metastatic lymph nodes. Any significant difference was not found in quantitative perfusion, diffusion, metabolic parameters of primary tumor between HPV-positive and HPV-negative groups. In case of metastatic lymph node, only metabolic parameters were significantly higher in HPV-positive group. In our study population, HPV status of primary OC-OPSCC and metastatic lymph nodes did not translate into different perfusion/diffusion parameters. Larger study population is needed to establish whether imaging parameters can represent the HPV status.