MR with surface coils in the follow-up after endoscopic laser resection for glottic squamous cell carcinoma: Feasibility and diagnostic accuracy

Introduction This study focuses on the feasibility and diagnostic accuracy of MR of the larynx performed with surface coils after endoscopic laser resection (ELR) for glottic cancer. Methods Thirty-one MR examinations of the larynx performed with surface coils on average 12 months after ELR were retrospectively reviewed. Image quality was assessed for each acquired sequence (score 1–3). All the postoperative focal lesions detected at the excision site were analysed by assessing the following: contrast/noise ratio (CNR) normalized on lateral cricoarytenoid muscle; lesion morphology (nodular/elongated) and enhancement after contrast agent administration; apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) on diffusion-weighted sequences (DWI). Results The image quality was highest for axial and coronal T2 sequences (2.39 and 2.58, respectively), and lower for the other sequences (1.66–1.72). However, in most sequences (86–100 %) the quality was considered acceptable. Among 35 focal lesions, nine were histologically proven recurrences, 26 were classified as benign focal lesions (BFL) on the basis of the subsequent follow-up. All recurrences had an intermediate T2 signal (0 < cnr0), mostly (4/5) nodular shape, intense enhancement and high ADC. The combination of T2-weighted and DWI provided the highest accuracy in the differential diagnosis between recurrences and BFL. Conclusion MR with surface coils is feasible and can be considered an effective tool in the follow-up after ELR for glottic cancer.