Dynamic contrast enhanced–MRI in head and neck cancer patients: Variability of the precontrast longitudinal relaxation time

Abstract

There is a certain amount of variability in the median T10 values between patients, but the differences are not significant. There were also no statistically significant differences between the T10 values for primary and nodes at baseline and the subsequent time points (p = 0.94 Friedman test). Voxel-based T10 calculations are essential when quantitative Tofts-based PK analysis in heterogeneous tumors is needed. In the absence of T10 mapping capability, when a relative, qualitative analysis is deemed sufficient, a value of T10(p,n) = 0.800 s can be used as an estimate for T10 for both the primary tumor and the affected nodes in head and neck cancers at all the time points considered.