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MRI of radiation-induced tumors of the head and neck in post-radiation nasopharyngeal carcinoma

European Radiology volume 19, Article number: 1197 (2009) Cite this article

Abstract

The aim of this study was to document the sites and MRI features of radiation-induced tumors (RITs) in the head and neck following treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The MRI examinations and clinical records of 20 patients with 21 RITs were reviewed retrospectively. RITs developed 3–30 years after radiotherapy and included eleven squamous cell carcinomas, six sarcomas, two neuroendocrine carcinomas, one mucoepidermoid carcinoma and one meningioma. RITs arose in the maxillary region (9), oro/hypopharynx and oral cavity (5), external auditory canal (4), nasopharynx and sphenoid sinus (2) and brain (1). Radiation-induced carcinoma and sarcoma had MRI features that were useful to distinguish them from recurrent NPC. To improve early detection of RITs, the check areas on an MRI of a patient with previous NPC treated by radiation should always include the maxillary region, tongue, and external auditory canal/temporal bone.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Organ Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong S.A.R., China

    Jill M. Abrigo, Ann D. King, Jeffrey K. T. Wong & Anil T. Ahuja

  2. Department of Clinical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong S.A.R., China

    Sing Fai Leung

  3. Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong S.A.R., China

    Alexander C. Vlantis & Michael C. F. Tong

  4. Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong S.A.R., China

    Gary M. K. Tse

Authors
  1. Jill M. Abrigo
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  2. Ann D. King
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  3. Sing Fai Leung
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  4. Alexander C. Vlantis
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  5. Jeffrey K. T. Wong
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  6. Michael C. F. Tong
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  7. Gary M. K. Tse
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  8. Anil T. Ahuja
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Correspondence to Ann D. King.

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Abrigo, J.M., King, A.D., Leung, S.F. et al. MRI of radiation-induced tumors of the head and neck in post-radiation nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Eur Radiol 19, 1197 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-008-1265-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-008-1265-6

Keywords

  • MRI
  • Nasopharyngeal carcinoma
  • Sarcoma
  • Squamous cell carcinoma
  • Radiation-induced tumor