BACKGROUND: To assess the diagnostic value of retrospective PET-MRI fusion and to compare the results with side-by-side analysis and single modality use of PET and of MRI alone for @entity5 and nodal staging of @entity135 . METHODS: Thirty-three @entity1 with @entity135 underwent preoperative contrast-enhanced MRI and PET/CT for staging. The diagnostic data of MRI, PET, side-by-side analysis of MRI and PET images and retrospective PET-MRI fusion were systematically analysed for @entity5 and lymph node staging using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The results were correlated to the histopathological evaluation. RESULTS: The overall sensitivity/specificity for @entity5 staging for MRI, PET, side-by-side analysis and retrospective PET-MRI fusion was 79%/66%, 82%/100%, 86%/100% and 89%/100%, respectively. The overall sensitivity/specificity for nodal staging on a @entity1 basis for MRI, PET, side-by-side analysis and PET-MRI fusion was 94%/64%, 94%/91%, 94%/82% and 94%/82%, respectively. MRI, PET, side-by-side analysis and retrospective image fusion were associated with correct diagnosis/over-staging/under-staging of N-staging in 70.4%/18.5%/11.1%, 81.5%/7.4%/11.1%, 81.5%/11.1%/7.4% and 81.5%/11.1%/7.4%, respectively.ROC analysis showed no significant differences in @entity5 detection between the investigated methods. The Area Under the Curve (AUC) for MRI, PET, side-by-side analysis and retrospective PET-MRI fusion were 0.667/0.667/0.702/0.708 (p   >   0.05). The most reliable technique in detection of cervical lymph node metastases was PET imaging (AUC: 0.95), followed by side-by-side analysis and retrospective image fusion technique (AUC: 0.941), which however, was not significantly better then the MRI (AUC 0.935; p   >   0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We found a beneficial use of multimodal imaging, compared with MRI or PET imaging alone, particular in individual cases of recurrent @entity5 . Side-by-side analysis and retrospective image fusion analysis did not perform significantly differently.

Diagnostic value of retrospective PET-MRI fusion in XXXX .

@entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['tumor', 'locoregional tumour', 'tumour disease', 'tumour'] @entity135 :: ('MESH:D006258', 'Disease') :: ['head-and-neck cancer'] @entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient']
@entity135 :: (MESH:D006258,Disease) :: ['head-and-neck cancer']
