RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Iron Oxide Particle-enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Detection of Benign Lymph Nodes in the Head and Neck: How Reliable are the Results? JF Anticancer Research JO Anticancer Res FD International Institute of Anticancer Research SP 3571 OP 3575 VO 27 IS 5B A1 MEHRAN BAGHI A1 MARTIN G. MACK A1 JENS WAGENBLAST A1 MARKUS HAMBEK A1 JÖRG RIEGER A1 SOTIRIOS BISDAS A1 WOLFGANG GSTOETTNER A1 KNUT ENGELS A1 THOMAS VOGL A1 RAINALD KNECHT YR 2007 UL http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/27/5B/3571.abstract AB Aim: To evaluate the accuracy of ultrasmall paramagnetic iron oxide (USPIO: Sinerem®)-enhanced MRI in patients with head and neck cancer and enlarged lymph nodes compared with current staging examinations using histology as a gold standard. Patients and Methods: Seventeen patients with a histologically proven squamous cell cancer of the head and neck (SCCHN) and different N-stages underwent a non-enhanced and a USPIO-enhanced MRI examination. Signal intensity (SI) was measured in a region of interest evaluation. Pathohistological examination was used as a reference. Results: On a patient basis, USPIO-enhanced MRI showed a higher specificity and diagnostic accuracy (94%) compared with non-enhanced MRI (53%). One patient showed a lymph node of 6 mm in the short axial diameter which was suggested as being metastatic in Sinerem®-enhanced MRI according to the enhancement pattern of Sinerem®. This patient was staged as N1 with Sinerem®-enhanced MRI. The histopathological examination did not confirm the Sinerem®-enhanced MRI result. Conclusion: The high values for the specifity and diagnostic accuracy of Sinerem®-enhanced MRI justifies further investigations with this contrast agent. USPIO-enhanced MRI could be advantageous in avoiding surgical overtreatment. Copyright© 2007 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved