Advances of quantitative dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI in head and neck neoplasms

The dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) images were generated according to the signal changes aroused by the different perfusion and permeability of micro-molecule contrast agents in tissues. The common T₁WI sequences include volumetric interpolated breathhold examination (VIBE), liver acquisition with volume acceleration (LAVA), time-resolved angiography with interleaved stochastic trajectories (TWIST). The qualitative, semi-quantitative and quantitative conclusions could be drawn after the post-processing of the original DCE-MRI images. Among them, the quantitative analysis was conducted according to different parameters, and then was applied in the diagnosis, differentiate diagnosis, and the classification of tumors and tumors' therapeutic evaluations. In this review we summarized the applications of the quantitative DCE-MRI in the head and neck neoplasms. (authors)