Comparison of contrast-enhanced magnetization transfer imaging and contrast-enhanced fat saturation T1-weighted imaging in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of contrast-enhanced magnetization transfer (CEMT) imaging in the study of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). METHODS: The contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of CEMT images was compared with the CNR of contrast-enhanced fat-saturation (CEFS) T1-weighted images in locoregional tumors and adenopathies of 50 patients with pathologically proven NPC. RESULTS: The CEMT images showed higher CNRs than CEFS images of local nasopharyngeal regions. The mean CNRs of the precontrast T1-weighted, CEFS, and CEMT images were 4.9, 15.4, and 21.2, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference (p < 0.01) in the CNRs of CEFS and CEMT images. In considering images of nodal metastasis, the mean values in these three groups were 0.7, 16.8, and 19.7, respectively, with the difference (p < 0.05) between CEFS and CEMT being statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The CEMT image with a larger CNR is superior to the CEFS image in detecting locoregional NPC. CEMT can be useful in imaging patients with possible small tumors and local recurrences.