The value of MRI combined with single photon emission computed tomography-CT for the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma with early skull base bone invasion and the affect on clinical decision / 中华放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To analyze the value of MRI combined with single photon emission computed tomography?CT (SPECT?CT) for the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma with early skull base bone invasion and the effect on clinical decision. Methods This retrospective study included 195 pathologically proven nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients with complete clinical and follow?up data, which did not find the signs of skull base bone invasion by CT and be subsequently performed MRI and SPECT?CT. The MRI and SPECT?CT images were respectively analyzed and the positive or negative judgment was made on whether there was skull base bone invasion. Clinical doctors made the routine clinical decision according to MR results, and then made the combined clinical decision based on the results of MR combined with SPECT?CT. The changes between 2 clinical decisions were analyzed. To assess the value of MR, SPECT-CT and combined examination in the diagnosis of skull base bone invasion on the basis of comprehensive clinical results (including symptoms, imaging and follow up, etc) as qualitative criteria. The diagnostic power of MRI, SPECT?CT and combined examination was analyzed by ROC. Results Compared with the routine clinical decisions, combined clinical decisions (44.6%, 87/195) were changed in 87 cases, including 21 cases with new diagnosis of skull base bone invasion, 46 cases with skull base invasion range increased and 87 cases with treatment plan changes. In 195 cases, 114 cases were confirmed to have the skull base bone invasion by comprehensive clinical results. When MRI was positive and SPECT?CT positive, MRI negative and SPECT?CT negative, MRI positive and SPECT?CT negative, MRI negative and SPECT?CT positive, the presence of skull base bone invasion respectively were 100.0%(74/74), 0 (58/58), 66.7%(16/24), 61.5%(24/39). MRI and (or) SPECT?CT positive was regarded as positive, it was used as the criterion of combined examination. For skull base bone invasion, MRI, SPECT?CT and combined examination had the sensitivities of 78.95%(90/114), 85.96%(98/114), and 100.00%(114/114), the specificities of 90.12%(73/81), 81.48% (66/81), 71.60% (58/81) , the area under the ROC curve of 0.845, 0.837, 0.858; and the misdiagnosis rate of 16.41%, (32/195), 15.90% (31/195), 11.79% (23/195). Conclusion MRI combined with SPECT?CT can improve the accuracy of diagnosing skull base bone invasion and effectively affect the clinical decision of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.