Advances in Diagnostic Imaging of Head and Neck Tumors: 2nd Edition

A special issue of Diagnostics (ISSN 2075-4418). This special issue belongs to the section "Medical Imaging and Theranostics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2024 | Viewed by 5766

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Radiology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
Interests: diagnostic radiology; head and neck imaging; neuroradiology
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue showcases recent advances in the realm of head and neck tumour imaging. In particular, original research articles that explore novel aspects of CT and MRI for characterizing head and neck tumours are welcome for submission. This can include enhancements of these modalities, such as dual-energy CT and spectral MRI, as well as post-processing techniques that exploit artificial intelligence, implement automated segmentation, exploit radiomics to differentiate lesions, predict optimal treatment selection, and assess treatment responses. Relevant review articles and technical notes may also be considered.

Dr. Daniel Thomas Ginat
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diagnostics is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • head and neck tumour imaging
  • CT
  • MRI
  • quantitative

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 3398 KiB  
Article
Predicting Response to Exclusive Combined Radio-Chemotherapy in Naso-Oropharyngeal Cancer: The Role of Texture Analysis
by Eleonora Bicci, Leonardo Calamandrei, Antonio Di Finizio, Michele Pietragalla, Sebastiano Paolucci, Simone Busoni, Francesco Mungai, Cosimo Nardi, Luigi Bonasera and Vittorio Miele
Diagnostics 2024, 14(10), 1036; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14101036 - 17 May 2024
Viewed by 933
Abstract
The aim of this work is to identify MRI texture features able to predict the response to radio-chemotherapy (RT-CHT) in patients with naso-oropharyngeal carcinoma (NPC-OPC) before treatment in order to help clinical decision making. Textural features were derived from ADC maps and post-gadolinium [...] Read more.
The aim of this work is to identify MRI texture features able to predict the response to radio-chemotherapy (RT-CHT) in patients with naso-oropharyngeal carcinoma (NPC-OPC) before treatment in order to help clinical decision making. Textural features were derived from ADC maps and post-gadolinium T1-images on a single MRI machine for 37 patients with NPC-OPC. Patients were divided into two groups (responders/non-responders) according to results from MRI scans and 18F-FDG-PET/CT performed at follow-up 3–4 and 12 months after therapy and biopsy. Pre-RT-CHT lesions were segmented, and radiomic features were extracted. A non-parametric Mann–Whitney test was performed. A p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Receiver operating characteristic curves and area-under-the-curve values were generated; a 95% confidence interval (CI) was reported. A radiomic model was constructed using the LASSO algorithm. After feature selection on MRI T1 post-contrast sequences, six features were statistically significant: gldm_DependenceEntropy and DependenceNonUniformity, glrlm_RunEntropy and RunLengthNonUniformity, and glszm_SizeZoneNonUniformity and ZoneEntropy, with significant cut-off values between responder and non-responder group. With the LASSO algorithm, the radiomic model showed an AUC of 0.89 and 95% CI: 0.78–0.99. In ADC, five features were selected with an AUC of 0.84 and 95% CI: 0.68–1. Texture analysis on post-gadolinium T1-images and ADC maps could potentially predict response to therapy in patients with NPC-OPC who will undergo exclusive treatment with RT-CHT, being, therefore, a useful tool in therapeutical–clinical decision making. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Diagnostic Imaging of Head and Neck Tumors: 2nd Edition)
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Review

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24 pages, 1684 KiB  
Review
Emerging Head and Neck Tumor Targeting Contrast Agents for the Purpose of CT, MRI, and Multimodal Diagnostic Imaging: A Molecular Review
by Jonathan M. Neilio and Daniel T. Ginat
Diagnostics 2024, 14(15), 1666; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14151666 - 1 Aug 2024
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Abstract
Background. The diagnosis and treatment of head and neck tumors present significant challenges due to their infiltrative nature and diagnostic hindrances such as the blood–brain barrier. The intricate anatomy of the head and neck region also complicates the clear identification of tumor boundaries [...] Read more.
Background. The diagnosis and treatment of head and neck tumors present significant challenges due to their infiltrative nature and diagnostic hindrances such as the blood–brain barrier. The intricate anatomy of the head and neck region also complicates the clear identification of tumor boundaries and assessment of tumor characteristics. Aim. This review aims to explore the efficacy of molecular imaging techniques that employ targeted contrast agents in head and neck cancer imaging. Head and neck cancer imaging benefits significantly from the combined advantages of CT and MRI. CT excels in providing swift, high-contrast images, enabling the accurate localization of tumors, while MRI offers superior soft tissue resolution, contributing to the detailed evaluation of tumor morphology in this region of the body. Many of these novel contrast agents have integration of dual-modal, triple-modal, or even dual-tissue targeting imaging, which have expanded the horizons of molecular imaging. Emerging contrast agents for the purpose of MRI and CT also include the widely used standards in imaging such as gadolinium and iodine-based agents, respectively, but with peptide, polypeptide, or polymeric functionalizations. Relevance for patients. For patients, the development and use of these targeted contrast agents have potentially significant implications. They benefit from the enhanced accuracy of tumor detection and characterization, which are critical for effective treatment planning. Additionally, these agents offer improved imaging contrast with the added benefit of reduced toxicity and bioaccumulation. The summarization of preclinical nanoparticle research in this review serves as a valuable resource for scientists and students working towards advancing tumor diagnosis and treatment with targeted contrast agents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Diagnostic Imaging of Head and Neck Tumors: 2nd Edition)
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9 pages, 2575 KiB  
Review
New Prospects on Neuroimaging in Von Hippel Lindau Disease—A Narrative Review
by Nikodem Pietrzak, Katarzyna Jankowska, Oskar Rosiak and Wieslaw Konopka
Diagnostics 2024, 14(3), 309; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14030309 - 31 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1307
Abstract
(1) Background: Hemangiomas in Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome patients are typically benign but pose threats due to their vital locations involving the central nervous system and the retina. An MRI is currently recommended as the gold standard for tumors associated with VHL in [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Hemangiomas in Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome patients are typically benign but pose threats due to their vital locations involving the central nervous system and the retina. An MRI is currently recommended as the gold standard for tumors associated with VHL in the head region. This narrative review aims to comprehensively outline current standards and recent findings related to imaging of retinal and CNS hemangiomas in Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome. (2) Material and Methods: A review in adherence to PRISMA guidelines using the search string “Von Hippel-Lindau hemangioblastoma imaging” was conducted on PUBMED and SCOPUS databases. (3) Results: After reviewing 455 titles and abstracts, 20 publications fulfilling the inclusion criteria were analyzed. The analysis included studies describing MRI, CT, optical coherence tomography, and PET/CT. (4) Conclusion: While MRI remains the gold standard for diagnosing head tumors in Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, various PET/CT methods show promise as alternative imaging modalities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Diagnostic Imaging of Head and Neck Tumors: 2nd Edition)
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Other

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13 pages, 2170 KiB  
Systematic Review
Diagnostic Accuracy of MRI in Detecting the Perineural Spread of Head and Neck Tumors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Umida Abdullaeva, Bernd Pape and Jussi Hirvonen
Diagnostics 2024, 14(1), 113; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14010113 - 4 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1933
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to review the diagnostic accuracy of MRI in detecting perineural spreading (PNS) of head and neck tumors using histopathological or surgical evidence from the afflicted nerve as the reference standard. Previous studies in the English language published [...] Read more.
The purpose of this study was to review the diagnostic accuracy of MRI in detecting perineural spreading (PNS) of head and neck tumors using histopathological or surgical evidence from the afflicted nerve as the reference standard. Previous studies in the English language published in the last 30 years were searched from PubMed and Embase databases. We included studies that used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (with and without contrast enhancement) to detect PNS, as well as the histological or surgical confirmation of PNS, and that reported the exact numbers of patients required for assessing diagnostic accuracy. The outcome measures were sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV). Heterogeneity was assessed with the Higgins inconsistency test (I2). P-values smaller than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. A total of 11 retrospective studies were found, reporting 319 nerve samples from 245 patients. Meta-analytic estimates and their 95% confidence intervals were as follows: sensitivity 0.85 (0.70–0.95), specificity 0.85 (0.80–0.89), PPV 0.86 (0.70–0.94), and NPV 0.85 (0.71–0.93). We found statistically significant heterogeneity for sensitivity (I2 = 72%, p = 0.003) and PPV (I2 = 70%, p = 0.038), but not for NPV (I2 = 65%, p = 0.119) or specificity (I2 = 12%, p = 0.842). The most frequent MRI features of PNS were nerve enlargement and enhancement. Squamous cell carcinoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma were the most common tumor types, and the facial and trigeminal nerves were the most commonly affected nerves in PNS. Only a few studies provided examples of false MRI diagnoses. MRI demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy in depicting PNS of cranial nerves, yet this statement was based on scarce and heterogeneous evidence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Diagnostic Imaging of Head and Neck Tumors: 2nd Edition)
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