Preliminary study on MRI arterial spin labeling and multi-b value DWI identifying the nature of retropharyngeal lymph nodes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

This study using two non-invasive technique as multi-b value DWI and ASL, aimed to compare those derived parameters of metastatic RLNs from NPC patients and non-metastatic retropharyngeal lymph nodes (RLNs) from NPC patients and healthy volunteers, thus to evaluate the diagnostic value of those two series on metastatic RLNs of NPC. It was concluded that the BF, ADC and D could reflect the difference of perfusion and diffusion between metastasis and non-metastasis RLNs, especially the BF which had significant difference. Therefore, ASL and multi-b DWI would be a useful supplement method to conventional diameter criterion to determine the N stage of NPC.