MR imaging with Gd-DTPA in lesions of the head and neck.

The diagnostic value of MR in the head and neck with special emphasis on the contrast medium Gd-DTPA will be demonstrated. A total of 1,260 patients underwent MR with different pulse sequences plain and with Gd-DTPA. The sequences were analyzed and compared with CT. Due to the different pattern of enhancement the contrast medium helped in differentiating malignant and benign tumors from other processes like cysts and inflammatory changes. Except lesions with small bony erosion and inflammatory changes of the salivary glands MR with Gd-DTPA proved to be diagnostically advantageous in all cases. Gd-DTPA improved the delineation of tumor margins. MR in combination with Gd-DTPA offers a lot of new advantages for diagnosing lesions of the head and neck. However, due to the prolonged examination time and the lack of noninvasiveness the use of Gd-DTPA has to be considered critical for every single area of the head and neck.