Influence of the Application of MRI on the T, N Staging System of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

OBJECTIVE To investigate the influence of utilizing MRI on the T, N staging system (the 5th edition, UICC) and on the 1992 China staging systems (Fuzhou-Guangzhou, China) by comparing the results of CT and MRI examinations of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

METHODS All 56 NPC patients, which were confirmed by histology, accepted both CT and MRI examinations. CT system scans were obtained by using an Elscient CT Twin Flash with the conventional axial scan. Three cases were examined by an additional coronary scan and 16 patients received an enhanced CT. The MR imaging was performed with a 0.5T MR system (Philips T5-II Ultra-Magnetic). The conventional axial, sagittal and coronary sections with SE sequences were obtained. The scan field was from the supra sellar cistern to the inferior border of C2. Most patients (50/56) accepted contrast enhanced MRI.

RESULTS The pharyngobasilar fascia can clearly be seen on MRI but not on CT, so MRI can accurately determine the lesion in the nasopharyngeal cavity. MRI is more sensitive for evaluation of tumor involvement of soft tissue such as the longus colli muscle (14 cases by CT and 26 by MRI), tensor veli patalini muscle and levator veli palatini muscle (17 cases by CT and 23 by MRI), and skull-base bone marrow invasion (15 cases by CT and 42 by MRI). MRI can also demonstrate the invasion of the carotid sheath area and the enlargement of retropharyngeal lymph nodes more definitely than CT. The involvement of the trigeminal nerve can be detected on MRI, which may influence the clinical staging directly.

CONCLUSION Of the 56 cases examined, 16 (28.6%) changed the staging based on UICC staging; while 33.9% (19/56) cases changed based on the 1992 China-staging system. The major influence of MRI examinations on the 1992 staging was to differentiate the involvement of the carotid sheath area from metastasis of the retropharyngeal lymph nodes. There also was a significant difference in finding early invasion of the skull base.