T1 and T2 Mapping for Identifying Malignant Lymph Nodes in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Motivation: Find a novel Quantitative parameters of imaging to differentiate between metastatic lymph nodes and reactive lymph node hyperplasia in HNSCC. Goal(s): This study seeks to assess the ability of T1 and T2 mapping to differentiate between metastatic lymph nodes and reactive lymph node hyperplasia in HNSCC. Approach: Quantitative measurements derived from preoperative T1 and T2 mapping and DWI of metastatic and non-metastatic lymph nodes were compared using independent samples t-test or Mann–Whitney U test. Results: Metastatic lymph nodes exhibited significantly lower mean T2 values, higher apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and higher standard deviation of T1 values (T1SD) (p < 0.001). Impact: Our findings indicate that malignant cervical lymph nodes exhibit significantly lower T2 values and higher T1SD and ADC values compared to benign lymph nodes in HNSCC. This finding has important implications for achieving preoperative high-accuracy nodal staging in HNSCC.