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PURPOSE: Intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging (IVIM-DWI)was evaluated regarding its ability to preliminarily predict the short-term treatment response of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) following intensity-modulated radiation therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: IVIM-DWI with 14 b-factors (0-1,000 sec/mm2) was performed with a 3T MR system on 47 consecutive NPCs before, during (end of the 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, and 25th fractions), and after fractional radiotherapy. IVIM parametrics (D, f, and D*) were calculated and compared to the baseline and xth fraction. Patients were categorized into responders and non-responders after radiotherapy. IVIM parametrics were also compared between subgroups. RESULTS: After fractional radiations, the D (except D5 and D at the end of the 5th fraction) after radiations were larger than the baseline D0 (p < 0.05), and the post-radiation D* (except D*5 and D*10) were smaller than D*0 (p < 0.05). f0 was smaller than f5 and f10 (p < 0.001) but larger than fend (p < 0.05). Furthermore, greater D5, D10, D15, and f10 coupled with smaller f0, D*20, and D*25 were observed in responders than non-responders (all p < 0.01). Responders also presented larger ΔD10, Δf10, ΔD*20, and δD*20 than non-responders (p < 0.05). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that the D5, D*20, and f10 could better differentiate responders from non-responders. CONCLUSION: IVIM-DWI could efficiently assess tumor treatment response to fractional radiotherapy and predict the radio-sensitivity for NPCs.
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Humans , Diffusion , Radiation Tolerance , Radiotherapy , Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated , ROC CurveABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the peri-nasopharyngeal invasion patterns of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) on MRI and its relationship with tumor staging. Methods One thousand five hundred and seventy-three patients with newly diagnosed NPC which were histo-pathologically proved were retrospectively studied. The MRI manifestations and invasion patterns of the NPCs were elevated according to the 2008 Tstaging system of NPC. Z test was used to analyze the rate of adjacent structures invasion in NPCs. Results The structures invaded by NPCs included pharyngobasilar fascia in 1299 cases (82. 58% ); parapharyngeal space, 1090 ( 69. 29% ); nasal cavities, 304 ( 19. 33% ); oropharynx, 49 ( 3. 12% ); carotid space,514(32. 68% ); medial pterygoid muscle, 661 (42. 02% ); lateral pterygoid muscle, 210( 13. 35% ); skull base bones, 943(59. 95% ); cranial nerves, 630(40. 05% ) and paranasal sinuses, 242 ( 15.38% ). The T-stage distribution was T1, 242 cases ( 15.38% ); T2, 288 ( 18. 31% ); T3, 410 (26. 06% ) and T4,633 (40. 24% ). Among the cases with nasal cavities invasion, 90. 46% (275/304)showed the involvement of the structures seen in T3 or T4 stage, which was found in all cases with oropharynx invasion. In addition,69. 14% (457/661) of cases with medial pterygoid muscle invasion and 92. 15% (223/242) of cases with paranasal sinuses invasion showed the involvement of structures seen in T4 stage. As for the invasion patterns of NPC, the lateral invasion of pharyngobasilar fascia was more frequent than upward invasion of skull base (Z = 14. 025, P ＜ 0. 01 ) and downward invasion of oropharynx ( Z = 45.032, P ＜ 0. 01 ), and the downward invasion of oropharynx was less frequent than upward invasion of skull base ( Z = 34. 301, P ＜ 0. 01 ) and forward invasion of nasal cavities ( Z = 14. 404, P ＜ 0. 01 ). Conclusion NPC has a predilection of lateral invasion rather than upward and downward invasion, and its upward and forward invasion are more common than downward invasion.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:To study the action mechanism of the self-made Wuhuang tang(Chinese medicine)in the treatment of type Ⅲ prostatitis(chronic nonbacterial prostatitis,CNBP)so as to promote the action mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine to the molecular level.METHODS:90 patients with CNBP were divided into two groups(n=45 each):one group received western medicine alone,another group received integrated Chinese and western medicine(ICWM)(Wuhuangtang plus western medicine).The indicators such as the expressed prostatic secretions(EPS)routine,IL-1?,and TNF-? before and after the treatment were analyzed statistically.RESULTS:The levels of IL-1? and TNF-? in ICWM-treated group decreased significantly and the clinical symptoms of these patients improved significantly as compared with those treated with western medicine alone.CONCLUSION:The self-made Wuhuang tang can markedly alleviate the symptoms of CNBP patients and decrease levels of IL-1? and TNF-? in patients' EPS,thus it is an effective clinical empirical prescription for CNBP.