The limitations of routine magnetic resonance imaging for long-term post-treatment locoregional surveillance of salivary carcinoma

Background/Aims: To determine the utility of head and neck magnetic resonance imaging (HN-MRI) for the routine surveillance of patients without concurrent symptoms or signs of recurrence more than 6 months after treatment for salivary gland carcinoma (SGC). Methods: This is a retrospective single-institution review of SGC patients from 2000 to 2011 who underwent one or more HN-MRI scans without concurrent suspicious symptoms or signs of recurrence more than 6 months after the completion of treatment, with at least 6 months of follow-up after each scan. Results: Out of an original 283 SGC patients treated surgically, 41 patients, who were disease free 6 months after treatment, had undergone 96 routine HNMRIs without concurrent suspicious symptoms or signs. Ten out of the 41 patients (24%) experienced a false-positive finding with routine HN-MRI. None of the 96 HN-MRIs demonstrated a true-positive or false-negative finding. Conclusion: More than 6 months after treatment, routine HN-MRI for the detection of locoregional recurrence of SGC has a low utility in patients without concurrent suspicious symptoms or signs. While these data support the judicious use of routine HN-MRIs, the managing physician should ultimately decide on the best course of surveillance for an individual patient based on the unique risk factors and circumstances present.