Clinical Report: Evaluating Dual-Energy and Perfusion CT in HNC Outcomes

Overview

Expand on the significance of DECT and PCT compared to existing imaging methods.

Background

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is a significant global health concern, often associated with HPV infection, particularly in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). Despite the biological differences in tumor response to treatment based on HPV status, current treatment approaches remain largely uniform. This highlights the urgent need for reliable imaging biomarkers that can predict treatment outcomes and facilitate personalized therapy.

Data Highlights

Key Findings

• Patients with complete response (CR) exhibited significantly higher blood flow (BF) and blood volume (BV) at 3 weeks post-chemoradiotherapy compared to non-responders (NCR).
• CR patients had a longer mean transit time (MTT) at 3 months than NCR patients.
• Lower contrast media attenuation (CMA) was observed in CR patients at 3 months.
• In the HPV-positive subgroup, CR patients consistently showed higher BF and BV than NCR patients.
• Delta analysis indicated significant differences in ΔCMA between HPV-negative patients.

Clinical Implications

The findings suggest that DECT and PCT could serve as valuable imaging biomarkers for predicting treatment response in HNC, particularly in the early stages of therapy. Clinicians may consider integrating these imaging modalities into routine practice to enhance individualized treatment planning.

Conclusion

This study highlights the potential of DECT and PCT as predictive tools for treatment outcomes in head and neck cancer, warranting further investigation in larger, prospective studies.

References

1. European Radiology, 2023 -- Predictive Value of Serial Multiparametric MRI and FDG-PET/CT Imaging Changes During Radiation Therapy for Treatment Outcomes in Head and Neck Cancer Patients
2. European Radiology, 2025 -- Evaluation of Perineural Invasion in Colorectal Cancer Using Dual-Energy CT and Histogram Analysis
3. European Radiology, 2023 -- Development and external validation of FDG PET-CT-based models for predicting outcomes in anal squamous cell carcinoma prior to treatment
4. Radiation Therapy for HPV-Positive Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: An ASTRO Clinical Practice Guideline, 2024
5. European Radiology — Reassessing the Potential of Dynamic Susceptibility Contrast MRI: Temporal, Spatial, and Vascular Aspects in Locally Recurrent High-Grade Gliomas
6. Dual-energy CT in head and neck applications
7. Radiation Therapy for HPV-Positive Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: An ASTRO Clinical Practice Guideline - ScienceDirect