Diffusion-weighted MRI at the Late Stage after Radiotherapy for Evaluating Salivary Gland Injury

Xiaoxue Xia; Lifen Wu; Tong Li; Qi Tang; Lizhong Liang

doi:10.2174/1573405620666230802094244

Diffusion-weighted MRI at the Late Stage after Radiotherapy for Evaluating Salivary Gland Injury

Curr Med Imaging. 2023 Aug 2. doi: 10.2174/1573405620666230802094244. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Xiaoxue Xia¹, Lifen Wu², Tong Li², Qi Tang¹, Lizhong Liang²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Stomatology, Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 52 Meihua East Road, Zhuhai 519000, Guangdong, China.
² Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 52 Meihua East Road, Zhuhai 519000, Guangdong, China.

PMID: 37528570
DOI: 10.2174/1573405620666230802094244

Abstract

Objective: Salivary gland injury is the main complication of radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) as a reliable tool to assess salivary gland function in NPC patients after radiotherapy.

Materials and methods: This study analysed the MR images of 31 NPC patients at different time points within 2-3 years after radiotherapy. The changes in the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and its relationship with radiation dose were analysed.

Results: Both the parotid and submandibular gland ADC values increased significantly 3-6 months after radiotherapy and then decreased gradually. The ADC value of the parotid gland was positively correlated with radiation dose at the late stage (P = 0.012, r = 0.359). The submandibular gland ADC change value (P = 0.035) and change ratio (P = 0.027) of the high radiation dose group were significantly lower than those of the low dose group at the late stage.

Conclusion: The correlation between ADC values of parotid and submandibular glands and the radiation dose indicated that DW-MRI could be helpful in evaluating salivary gland injury after radiotherapy.

Keywords: Diffusion-weighted MRI; nasopharyngeal carcinoma; radiotherapy; salivary gland injury.