Study of Effects of Difference Between MRI and CT Findings on T-staging of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma and Target Volume

Objective To investigate effects of difference between MRI and CT findings on T-staging of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and target volume.Materials and Methods MRI and CT findings in 101 newly diagnosed patients with poorly differentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma were compared.The effects of target volume of primary tumor based on MRI and CT findings on radiation therapy were evaluated.Results The rate of demonstrating lesions in the retropharyngeal node,long muscle of head,sphenoidal sinus,clivus,and paranasal sinuses by MRI was higher than that by CT(P0.05).There was significant difference in T-staging of nasopharyngeal carcinoma between MRI and CT(P0.05).The target volume of primary tumor delineated on MRI was more than CT(P0.05).Conclusion MRI was superior to CT in demonstrating nasopharyngeal carcinoma and metastases,staging of nasopharyngeal carcinoma,and calculating target volume of the tumor.