Multi-scale analysis of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) predicts cervical nodal statusudin patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

摘要

The study assess multi-scale diffusion parameters (median volumetric nodal region of interestudvalues, inter-voxel histogram distributions, and intra-voxel diffusion heterogeneity as assessed byudthe stretched exponential model) as classifiers of nodal status in patients with head and neckudsquamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Low b value (0, 50, 100) derived nodal ADC (perfusion sensitive)udwas the key parameter facilitating discrimination of metastatic from benign nodes in patients withudhead and neck SCC. The stretched exponential derived α value together with histogram featuresudof ADC provide an accurate decision tree model for classification of nodal disease.