Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39384329›Full record

ArticleAJNR. American journal of neuroradiology2025

Comparison of Diffusion-Weighted MRI Using Single-Shot Echo-Planar Imaging and Split Acquisition of Fast Spin-Echo Signal Imaging, a Non-EPI Technique, in Tumors of the Head and Neck.

Hedda J van der Hulst, Loes Braun, Bram Westerink, Georgios Agrotis, Leon C Ter Beek, Renaud Tissier, Milad Ahmadian, Roland M Martens, Jan W Casselman, Regina G H Beets-Tan and 2 more

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Hedda J van der HulstFrom the Department of Radiology (H.J.v.d.H., L.B., B.W., G.A., M.A., R.G.H.B.-T., J.A.C.), Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands h.vd.hulst@nki.nl.
Loes BraunFrom the Department of Radiology (H.J.v.d.H., L.B., B.W., G.A., M.A., R.G.H.B.-T., J.A.C.), Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Bram WesterinkFrom the Department of Radiology (H.J.v.d.H., L.B., B.W., G.A., M.A., R.G.H.B.-T., J.A.C.), Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Georgios AgrotisFrom the Department of Radiology (H.J.v.d.H., L.B., B.W., G.A., M.A., R.G.H.B.-T., J.A.C.), Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-3752-1315
Leon C Ter BeekDepartment of Clinical Physics (L.C.t.B.), Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Renaud TissierBiostatistics Unit (R.T.), Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Milad AhmadianFrom the Department of Radiology (H.J.v.d.H., L.B., B.W., G.A., M.A., R.G.H.B.-T., J.A.C.), Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Roland M MartensDepartment of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine (R.M.M.), Amsterdam University Medical Center, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-8297-6802
Jan W CasselmanDepartment of Radiology (J.W.C.), Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-8970-6979
Regina G H Beets-TanFrom the Department of Radiology (H.J.v.d.H., L.B., B.W., G.A., M.A., R.G.H.B.-T., J.A.C.), Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-8533-5090
Michiel W M van den BrekelDepartment of Head and Neck Oncology and Surgery (H.J.v.d.H., M.A., M.W.M.v.d.B.), the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-6338-6743
Jonas A CastelijnsFrom the Department of Radiology (H.J.v.d.H., L.B., B.W., G.A., M.A., R.G.H.B.-T., J.A.C.), Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0001-5105-4023

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

background and purposeDWI using single-shot echo-planar imaging (DWI-EPI) is susceptible to distortions around air-filled cavities and dental fillings, typical for the head and neck area. Non-EPI, split acquisition of fast spin-echo signals for diffusion imaging (DW-SPLICE) could reduce these distortions and enhance image quality, thereby potentially improving recurrence assessment in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck region. This study evaluated whether DW-SPLICE is a viable alternative to DWI-EPI through quantitative and qualitative analyses. MATERIALS AND

methodsThe DW-SPLICE sequence was incorporated into the standard 3T head and neck MRI protocol with DWI-EPI. Retrospective analysis was conducted on 2 subgroups: first benign or malignant lesions, and second, posttreatment SCC recurrence. In both subgroups, image quality and distortion were scored by 2 independent radiologists, blinded to the DWI technique and evaluated using mixed-effect linear models. Lesion ADC values were assessed with interclass correlation and Bland-Altman analyses. The delineation geometric similarity of DWI to T1-weighted postcontrast MRI was evaluated using the DSC before and after registration. Recurrence in posttreatment SCC scans was evaluated by the same 2 radiologists blinded to the DWI technique. Recurrence detection rates were then compared between DW-SPLICE and DWI-EPI using mixed logistic regression at 6 months and 1 year postscan follow-up data.

resultsFrom August 2020 to January 2022, fifty-five benign or malignant lesion scans (55 patients) and 74 posttreatment SCC scans (66 patients) were analyzed. DW-SPLICE scored better on image quality and showed less overall distortion than DWI-EPI (0.04<

conclusionsDW-SPLICE surpasses DWI-EPI on image distortion and quality and improves diagnostic reliability for detecting recurrent or residual SCC on 3T MRI of the head and neck. Consistent use of 1 method for follow-up is advised, because ADC values are not completely interchangeable. Integrating DW-SPLICE can significantly improve tumor assessments in clinical practice.

Indexed as

Carcinoma, Squamous CellDiffusion Magnetic Resonance ImagingEcho-Planar ImagingHead and Neck NeoplasmsImage Interpretation, Computer-AssistedAdultAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNeoplasm Recurrence, LocalReproducibility of ResultsRetrospective StudiesSensitivity and Specificity

Identifiers

PMID39384329
PMCPMC11979853

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.