Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI–Derived Intracellular Water Lifetime (τi): A Prognostic Marker for Patients with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas

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The authors evaluated 60 patients with dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging before treatment. Median, mean intracellular water molecule lifetime, and volume transfer constant values from metastatic nodes were computed from each patient. Kaplan-Meier analyses were performed to associate mean intracellular water molecule lifetime and volume transfer constant and their combination with overall survival and beyond. Patients with high mean intracellular water molecule lifetime had overall survival significantly prolonged by 5 years compared with those with low mean intracellular water molecule lifetime. Patients with high mean intracellular water molecule lifetime had significantly longer overall survival at long-term duration than those with low mean intracellular water molecule lifetime. Volume transfer constant was a significant predictor for only the 5-year follow-up period. They conclude that a combined analysis of mean intracellular water molecule lifetime and volume transfer constant provided the best model to predict overall survival in patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck.

Abstract

Figure 2 from paper
Representative images from a patient who died 2.12 years after the end of CRT. Axial T2-weighted image (A) demonstrates a heterogeneous hyperintense metastatic left level IIb lymph node (arrow). It appears hypointense on a coregistered T1-weighted image (B) with heterogeneous enhancement on postcontrast T1-weighted image (C). DCE-MRI–derived τi (0.031 seconds; [D]) and Ktrans (0.135 minutes−1 [E]) maps overlaid on postcontrast T1-weighted images demonstrating lower τi and Ktrans values from the node compared with the patient with longer survival as shown in Fig 1.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Shutter-speed model analysis of dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging allows estimation of mean intracellular water molecule lifetime (a measure of cellular energy metabolism) and volume transfer constant (a measure of hemodynamics). The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic utility of pretreatment mean intracellular water molecule lifetime and volume transfer constant in predicting overall survival in patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck and to stratify p16-positive patients based upon survival outcome.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cohort of 60 patients underwent dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging before treatment. Median, mean intracellular water molecule lifetime and volume transfer constant values from metastatic nodes were computed from each patient. Kaplan-Meier analyses were performed to associate mean intracellular water molecule lifetime and volume transfer constant and their combination with overall survival for the first 2 years, 5 years, and beyond (median duration, >7 years).

RESULTS

By the last date of observation, 18 patients had died, and median follow-up for surviving patients (n = 42) was 8.32 years. Patients with high mean intracellular water molecule lifetime (4 deaths) had significantly (P = .01) prolonged overall survival by 5 years compared with those with low mean intracellular water molecule lifetime (13 deaths). Similarly, patients with high mean intracellular water molecule lifetime (4 deaths) had significantly (P = .006) longer overall survival at long-term duration than those with low mean intracellular water molecule lifetime (14 deaths). However, volume transfer constant was a significant predictor for only the 5-year follow-up period. There was some evidence (P < .10) to suggest that mean intracellular water molecule lifetime and volume transfer constant were associated with overall survival for the first 2 years. Patients with high mean intracellular water molecule lifetime and high volume transfer constant were associated with significantly (P < .01) longer overall survival compared with other groups for all follow-up periods. In addition, p16-positive patients with high mean intracellular water molecule lifetime and high volume transfer constant demonstrated a trend toward the longest overall survival.

CONCLUSIONS

A combined analysis of mean intracellular water molecule lifetime and volume transfer constant provided the best model to predict overall survival in patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck.

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Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI–Derived Intracellular Water Lifetime (τi): A Prognostic Marker for Patients with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas
Jeffrey Ross
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