T-staging of nasopharyngeal carcinoma:MRI and CT assessment

Objective To compare the image of MRI and CT in assessing nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC),and evaluate the value of MRI and CT in clinical T-staging of NPC.Methods 1.5 Tesla MRI scans were performed in 101 patients with newly diagnosed poor differentiation nasopharyngeal squamous carcinoma.The MRI findings were compared to those obtained by CT scans.Comparison of clinical T-stage between those two means were performed.Results MRI was superior to CT in demonstrating lesions in the retropharyngeal node(ΔP=-36.6337%),M.longus capitis(ΔP=-24.7525%),sphenoidal sinus(ΔP=-17.8218%),clivus(ΔP=-25.7426%),cavernous sinus(ΔP=-8.9109%)and paranasal sinuses(ΔP=-14.8515%)(P0.05).The cases distribution of clinical T-stage MRI were:one T1,37 T2,43 T3,20 T4 while those proved by CT were:4 T1,63 T2,23 T3,9 T4.There was a statistic difference in the cases distribution of clinical T-staging proved by MRI and CT(P=0.000).Conclusion MRI was superior to CT in demonstrating lesions in the retropharyngeal node,sphenoidal sinus,clivus,cavernous sinus and paranasal sinuses.In T-staging of NPC,the constituent ratio of early stages(T1,T2)in MRI was lower than that in CT assessment,while the constituent ratio of terminal stages(T3,T4)in MRI was higher than that in CT assessment.