CT AND MRI OF TUMORS OF THE HYPOPHARYNX A ND LARYNX - COMPARISON OF BOTH IMAGING MODALITIES INCLUDING FAST AND ULTRAFAST MR SEQUENCES

A total of 86 patients with malignant tumours of the hypopharynx and l arynx were examined with CT and MRI. The most frequent malignant tumou rs of the larynx namely, the glottic carcinomas, were better detected with CT than with MRI. The other tumours of the larynx, however, were better visualised with MRI. MRI proved superior to CT in the detection and staging of carcinomas of the hypopharynx. Functional MR images (p honation studies, Valsalva's manoeuvre) were attainable using ultrafas t sequences, thus enhancing the diagnostic value of MRI. MRI proved su perior to CT enabling a better differentiation of recurrent tumours, i nflammatory tissue and scar. For this purpose, T1-weighted plain and c ontrast-enhanced spin-echo images and T2-weighted spin-echo images wer e necessary in most cases. T2 weighting turbo spin-echo sequences with relatively short acquisition times proved superior to conventional T2 weighting spin-echo sequences; thanks to shorter acquisition times, t he motion artifacts could be reduced and the image quality improved.