Abstract：Objective: To explore the potential value of perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging(PWI) parameters in differential diagnosis between undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) and differentiated NPC. Materials and Methods: Ninety-four patients with nonkeratinizing NPC(71 undifferentiated, 23 differentiated) underwent PWI. The difference of PWI quantitative parameters(Ktrans, Kep and Ve) was compared between the undifferentiated NPC and differentiated NPC. Results: The Ktrans, Kep and Ve values of the undifferentiated NPC were (0.378±0.161) min-1, (1.514±0.488) min-1 and 0.272±0.123, respectively. For the differentiated NPC, the Ktrans, Kep and Ve values were (0.266±0.059) min-1, (1.204±0.279) min-1 and 0.232±0.063, respectively. Both Ktrans and Kep values revealed significant difference between the undifferentiated NPC and differentiated NPC. For Ve value, no significant difference was found between the two NPC groups. Based on the receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve, Ktrans had a sensitivity of 84.5% and Kep had a specificity of 91.3% in differentiating the two NPC groups. Conclusion: There is some difference of PWI quantitative parameters between the differentiated NPC and undifferentiated NPC. Ktrans and Kep are possibly helpful in differential diagnosis between the two NPC groups.
2014, Vol. 25 
