Diagnostic value of 3D dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in lymph node metastases of head and neck tumors: a correlation study with histology.

Background: Accurate staging of cervical lymph nodes (LN) is pivotal for further clinical management of patients with head and neck cancer. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) such as three-dimensional (3D) dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) acquisition might improve the diagnosis of cervical LN metastases.

Purpose: To evaluate the additional diagnostic value of high-resolution 3D T1-weighted DCE in detecting LN metastasis compared to standard morphological imaging criteria in patients with head and neck tumors as correlated to histopathology.