Meeting Banner
Abstract #3443

Diffusion Weighted Imaging in Head-And-Neck Cancer: Comparison Between Echo Planar and Turbo Spin Echo Sequences

Tim Schakel1, Gert van Yperen2, Johan van den Brink2, Frank A. Pameijer3, Chris Terhaard1, Hans Hoogduin3, Marielle E.P. Philippens1

1Radiotherapy, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands; 2Philips Healthcare, Best, Netherlands; 3Radiology, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands

Current DW-EPI images are, due to the geometric distortions, unsuitable for delineation purposes for radiotherapy treatment planning in head-and-neck cancer patients. The presented alternative, DW-SPLICE, can produce distortion free images at the cost of longer acquisition times and increased blurring.

Keywords

accuracy acquisition addition alternative alternatively anatomically applicability assess best better blurring bottom brink bulk cancer candidate causes causing challenging coils combination combined comparable comparing concerning condition contrast cost dashed definition delineation destructive diagnosis diagram diffusion distortion distortions echoes eight evolution experienced facilitate fast flex formed frank free functional geometric geometrical gradients grading hampered head improve increasingly inhomogeneities issue leading longer magnitude mask medicine might monitoring motion neck noise obviously particularly patients physicist planar planning post prediction preferable produce proposed protocol pulse radiology radiotherapy reconstructed recurrence refocusing related representative response robust scale scanned score scored scores sense separate slice slices slightly solid solve spacing spin splice split stimulated suppression surrounding susceptibility target tissue trains transitions treatment tumor turbo unstable unsuitable violation visible worst