Application of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in radiotherapy for esophageal carcinoma / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

ABSTRACT

As an important component of functional magnetic resonance imaging,diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) can provide qualitative and quantitative information for tumor evaluation and distinguish esophageal lesions and mediastinal lymph node metastasis.DWI-computed tomography fusion images facilitate the delineation of target volume.During radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy for esophageal carcinoma,monitoring the changes in apparent diffusion coefficient value helps to predict the early treatment outcomes and prognosis;DWI compensates for the shortcomings of radiography alone in the evaluation of short-term treatment outcomes.This paper reviews the application of DWI in the diagnosis,delineation of target volume,assessment of treatment outcomes,and prognostic prediction in radiotherapy for esophageal carcinoma.