PET/MRI in Primary Staging of Laryngeal Cancer

Imaging with PET/MRI is useful for primary staging of laryngeal cancer, according to a study in the European Journal of Radiology.

Researchers from Italy sought to assess the clinical impact of PET/MRI examination on patients with histologically proven laryngeal cancer, and their staging and treatment planning.

Sixteen patients underwent whole body PET/CT followed by a dedicated head/neck PET/MRI. Two blinded groups evaluated the data: metabolic (SUV and MTV), diffusion (ADC) and perfusion (Ktrans, Ve, kep, and iAUC) maps were obtained by positioning regions of interest (ROIs). Tumoral local extension assessed on PET/MRI was compared to endoscopic findings.

The results showed a good interobserver agreement in anatomical location and local extension of PET/MRI lesions. “PET/CT SUV measures highly correlate with ones derived by PET/MRI (eg, p = 0.96 for measures on VOI),” the authors wrote. “Significant correlations among metabolic, diffusion and perfusion parameters have been detected.” The researchers noted that PET/MRI had a relevant clinical impact, confirming endoscopic findings (six cases), helping treatment planning (nine cases), and modifying endoscopic primary staging (one case).

The researchers concluded that use of PET/MRI in primary staging of laryngeal cancer allowed simultaneous collection of metabolic and functional data and conditioning the therapeutic strategies.