MR EVALUATION OF LARYNGOHYPOPHARYNGEAL CANCER - VALUE OF GADOPENTETATE DIMEGLUMINE ENHANCEMENT

PURPOSE: To investigate the value of gadopentetate dimeglumine-enhance d MR imaging in determining the extent of laryngohypopharyngeal cancer . METHODS: Unenhanced and contrast-enhanced Tl-weighted, proton-densit y-weighted, and T2-weighted images from 24 patients with laryngohypoph aryngeal cancer were reviewed and compared with the pathologic finding s of resected specimens. In 18 patients, ex vivo MR images of the rese cted specimens were also compared with pathologic findings. RESULTS: L aryngohypopharyngeal cancer showed intermediate intensity on Tl-weight ed and proton-density-weighted images, high intensity on T2-weighted i mages, and moderate enhancement on TI-weighted enhanced images. Cartil age-invaded tumor enhanced moderately, whereas unossified cartilage in contact with tumors but without tumor invasion showed no enhancement. Laryngohypopharyngeal mucosa enhanced intensely; endolaryngeal muscle s enhanced less. CONCLUSIONS: Enhanced MR images were more useful in a ssessing the extent of tumors and the presence of laryngeal cartilage invasion than were proton-density-weighted and T2-weighted images.