OBJECTIVETo evaluate the potential correlations between parameters of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) and clinical stages of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

METHODSEighty-one newly diagnosed NPC patients received MRI examination. Clinical TNM stages and corresponding overall stages based on Chinese 2008 Staging System were determined. Pearson correlation coefficients were obtained to evaluate the potential correlations between DCE-MRI parameters of primary NPC lesions and clinical stages.

RESULTSSix cases were excluded from the study due to poor quality of images or too small tumor samples. The Ktrans,Kep, Ve, fPV, PeakT, Maxslop, CER, WoutSI, AUC90 and AUC180 values of 75 primary NPC tumors were (0.336 ± 0.133) min⁻¹, (1.419 ± 0.441) min⁻¹, 0.256 ± 0.100, 0.018 ± .010, (64.879 ± 15.975)s, (21.181 ± 5.507)s⁻¹, 1.348 ± 0.998, 0.515 ± 0.383, 16.177 ± 5.141 and 28.891 ± 9.511, respectively. Ktrans showed a positive correlation with overall stage (r=0.240, P=0.038), T stage (r=0.257, P=0.026) and M stage (r=0.438, P<0.001). A significant positive correlation was revealed of Ve with overall stage (r=0.418, P<0.001), T stage (r=0.466, P<0.001) and M stage (r=0.269, P=0.020). Negative correlation was found between Kep and T stage (r=-0.288, P=0.012). PeakT had positive correlation with overall stage (r=0.231, P=0.046) and T stage (r=0.318, P=0.005). AUC90 was revealed to have a positive correlation with overall stage (r=0.362, P=0.001), T stage (r=0.380, P=0.001) and M stage (r=0.446, P<0.001). AUC180 showed a positive correlation with overall stage (r=0.380, P=0.001), T stage (r=0.405, P<0.001) and M stage (r=0.423, P<0.001). No significant correlations for N stage with any DCE-MRI parameter were found. NPC in M1 stage had higher Ktrans, Ve, AUC90 and AUC180 values than NPC in M0 stage. There were significant (P<0.05) differences in Ktrans, Ve, PeakT, AUC90 and AUC180 values among different overall stages. Significant (P<0.01) differences in Ve, PeakT, AUC90 and AUC180 values were observed among different T stages.

CONCLUSIONSDCE-MRI parameters of primary NPC lesions have significant correlations with clinical stages. DCE-MRI parameters may act as imaging biomarkers for non-invasive assessment of the tumor microstructure, disease progression and aggressiveness of NPC.