64-row MDCT perfusion of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: technical feasibility and quantitative analysis of perfusion parameters.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the technical feasibility of 64-row computed tomography (CT) quantitative perfusion imaging of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

METHODS

Twenty-nine patients with a total of 29 pathologically proven SCC underwent a cine-mode CT perfusion acquisition covering the lesion site. The acquisition started 10 s after intravenous injection of iodinated contrast material and lasted 50 s. On a dedicated workstation, regions of interest (ROI) were traced within the SCC, on a healthy portion of tissue (H), and on the ipsilateral sternocleidomastoid muscle (M). Blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), mean transit time (MTT) and permeability-surface product (PS) were calculated.

RESULTS

In SCC, BF, BV and PS were higher compared with H (p<0.0001, p=0.002 and p=0.004, respectively) and M (p<0.0001). Conversely, MTT was lower in SCC than in H (p=0.0009) and M (p=0.0003). All datasets were free from substantial motion artefacts and ROI misregistration phenomena. No substantial discomfort or adverse events were experienced by any of the patients.

CONCLUSION

64-row CT quantitative perfusion imaging allows head and neck SCC to be distinguished from normal tissues.