New MRI Biomarkers in Head and Neck Cancers

Quantitative Imaging Tools to Derive DW-MRI Oncological Biomarkers

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a diagnostic technique that takes pictures of organs of the body. It uses magnetic fields and radio waves that cannot be felt. This makes specific organs, blood vessels, or tumors easier to see. Diffusion MRI lets us measure the motion of water in the tumor.

The purpose of this study is to see if new MRI methods can give us more information about the tumor.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ≥ 18 years

• Group 1 patients: Presence of a suspicious metastatic lesion or suspicious for recurrent disease in the head and neck region.

• Group 2 patients:

  • Biopsy proven recurrent or metastatic or definitive head and neck cancer or (differentiated and undifferentiated) thyroid cancers in the head and neck region only.
  • Patients planning to undergo reatment at MSK

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patient would require anesthesia for the study

• Patients who are claustrophobic

• Patients selecting treatment outside of MSK

• Known reaction to Gd based contrast agent

• Patients who have presence of a known contradiction to MRI

  • Pacemaker
  • Aneurysm clips
  • Patients with implants that are contradicted for MR imaging will be excluded
  • Pregnant
  • Age and mental status wherein he /she is unable to cooperate for MRI study