The value of time-dependent diffusion MRI in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: correlation with prognostic factors.
prospective_cohort · Level II
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 41844850.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1007/s00330-026-12402-0.
- No licence information is recorded for this record.
- Because redistribution is not established, this page shows the abstract only. Follow the links below for the full text.
Abstract
To evaluate the correlation between time-dependent diffusion MRI (t<sub>d</sub>-dMRI) parameters and prognostic factors in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). 116 patients (105 NPC, 11 benign hyperplasia) were prospectively enrolled. Four t<sub>d</sub>-dMRI-derived microstructural parameters, extracellular diffusivity (D<sub>ex</sub>), intracellular volume fraction (V<sub>in</sub>), Diameter, and Cellularity, and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) at three oscillation frequencies (ADC<sub>0Hz</sub>, ADC<sub>30Hz</sub>, and ADC<sub>55Hz</sub>), were obtained. TNM stages and prognostic factors were recorded; continuous variables were dichotomized by optimal cut-offs. Correlations, between-group comparisons, and receiver operating characteristic analysis summarized diagnostic performance as the area under the curve (AUC). Programmed death ligand 1 was correlated with ADC values, with ADC<sub>55Hz</sub> achieving an AUC of 0.708. Epidermal growth factor receptor was correlated with Cellularity and Diameter (r = 0.341 and -0.329). Ki-67 expression was associated with D<sub>ex</sub> and ADC<sub>55Hz</sub> (r = 0.252 and 0.286). V<sub>in</sub>, Cellularity and ADC<sub>0/30Hz</sub> were linked to histological subtype, with V<sub>in</sub> achieving the highest AUC of 0.706. TNM stages were correlated with Diameter (r = 0.203 to 0.371) and Cellularity (r = -0.365 to -0.284). ADC<sub>30Hz</sub> best distinguished NPC (T1-2) from hyperplasia (AUC = 0.847). Negative correlations were observed between several parameters and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-based antibodies (r = -0.269 to -0.239). V<sub>in</sub> and ADC<sub>0/30Hz</sub> differed across EBV DNA clearance groups after induction chemoimmunotherapy (p ≤ 0.038). t<sub>d</sub>-dMRI-measured diameters correlated with pathological measurements (r = 0.772, p < 0.001). t<sub>d</sub>-dMRI parameters may reflect tumor microstructure and show associations with prognostic factors in NPC, suggesting potential utility for risk stratification and treatment monitoring. Question Can microstructural parameters from time-dependent diffusion MRI (t<sub>d</sub>-dMRI) noninvasively provide clinically meaningful prognostic information for nasopharyngeal carcinoma? Findings Differences in prognostic factor levels can be reflected by t<sub>d</sub>-dMRI, and t<sub>d</sub>-dMRI-derived diameter was correlated with pathology-derived diameter (r = 0.772, p < 0.001). Clinical relevance t<sub>d</sub>-dMRI provides a noninvasive method to characterize tumor microstructure, potentially improving patient management strategies in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.