Pre- and post-radiotherapy MRI results as a predictive model for response in laryngeal carcinoma

The purpose was to determine if pre-radiotherapy (RT) and/or post-radiotherapy magnetic resonance (MR) imaging can predict response in patients with laryngeal carcinoma treated with RT. Pre- and post-RT MR examinations of 80 patients were retrospectively reviewed and associated with regard to local control. Pre-RT MR imaging parameters such as tumor involvement of specific laryngeal anatomic subsites including laryngeal cartilages and post-RT changes, i.e., complete resolution of the tumor or focal mass/asymmetric obliteration of laryngeal tissue and signal pattern on T2-weighted images, were evaluated. Local control was defined as absence of a recurrence at the primary site for 2 years. Local control rates based on pretreatment MR findings were 73% for low pre-RT risk-profile and 29% for high pre-RT risk-profile patients (p = 0.0001). Based on posttreatment MR findings, local control rates were 100% score 1, 64% score 2, and 4% score 3 (p < 0.0001). Using post-RT T2-weighted images, significant association was found between differences in signal pattern and local control: 77% hypointense, 54% isointense and 15% hyperintense lesions (p < 0.001). Differences between means of delay of post-MRI examination were significantly associated with regard to local control (p = 0.003); recurrent tumors followed 5 months after RT were more easily detectable on MRI than recurrent tumors within 4 months after RT. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, negative and positive predictive values of post-RT score 3 were 96%, 76%, 83%, 98% and 66%. Pre- and post-RT MRI evaluation of the larynx can identify patients at high risk for developing local failure.