MRI in recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma

In this study, we retrospectively reviewed the MRI features of recurrent na sopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in 72 patients who underwent MRI before and af ter gadolinium injection. Recurrent NPC exhibited a high degree of regional spread and a variety of signal intensities and contours. MRI showed a naso pharyngeal mass in 50 patients (69.4 %); other sites of involvement include d the parapharyngeal space (44.4 %). nasal cavity (12.5 %), paranasal sinus es (27.8 %), oropharynx (4.2 %), orbit (8.3 %), infratemporal fossa (18.1 % ), skull base (59.8 %), intracranial area (51.4 %) and regional lymph nodes (15.3 %). On T2-weighted images, the nasopharyngeal mass gave high signal in 9 of 50 cases (18 %), intermediate in 27 (54 %), mixed in 8 (16 %) and l ow signal in 6 (12 %). Contrast enhancement was strong in 12 cases (24 %), moderate in 29 (58 %) and heterogeneous in 9 (18 %). The lesion was convex in 31 cases (62 %) and concave or straight in 19 (38 %). Recognition of the distribution and the appearance of recurrent NPC on MRI is essential for t imely diagnosis and appropriate treatment.