Functional Imaging in HNC Undergoing Chemoradiation

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of the study is to generate a library of functional imaging and anatomical imaging for patients with head and neck cancers for evaluation of new radiotherapy strategies and planning techniques including IMRT. Secondary aims would be to observe the changes in the cancers as the treatment progresses as well as to define the biologically most active part of the tumor (biological target volume) which could be given more intensive treatment. Tumor volumes seen on different imaging modalities will be compared with a hope of finding an optimal imaging methodology for accurate visualization of the head and neck cancers

Detailed Description
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Adult patients who have a head and neck cancer and are planned to receive chemotherapy and radiotherapy will be invited to participate in the study. Patients who are not in very good health, have diabetes or kidney failure will not be considered for the study. Also patients who can not undergo MRI scan or are allergic to contrast injection given prior to the scan or have had any other form of cancer (except skin cancer) will also be excluded from the study.

Official Title
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Investigation of the Role of Functional Imaging in Characterising Radiotherapy Target Volumes and Assessing Disease Response in Patients Undergoing Chemoradiation for Head and Neck Cancer (HNC)

Conditions
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Head and Neck Cancer

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: patients with histologically proven head and neck cancer, planed for chemotherapy and radiotherapy age more than 18 years patient willing to participate and has signed a consent form patients in good physical status (WHO performance status 0-2) Exclusion Criteria: patients in poor health (WHO performance status >2) patients with any other cancer apart from skin cancer patients with contraindications to MRI scan and IV contrast diabetic patients patients with renal failure

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| the number of patients completing the study protocol and adding to the library of images to be used for evaluation of new radiotherapy strategies and planning techniques including IMRT |  |  | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| the ability to define a biological target volume in all the patients |  |  | 
| to compare the volumes defined by the conventional imaging to the functional imaging |  |  | 
| to measure changes in the volume of the disease with diff |  |  | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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head and neck cancer, DW MRI, PET, DCE MRI, functional imaging, IMRT