Magnetic resonance imaging of the nasopharynx

Imaging of the upper aerodigestive tract, mainly the nasopharynx and oropharynx, has always challenged the radiologist. It is clear that MRI has a leading role in the diagnosis and treatment planning of patients with diseases of the head and neck. This is especially true in the nasopharynx. Although improvements have been made in x-ray diagnosis through the years, subtle diagnoses have been difficult to make because of the variations in airway contour and the superimposition of areas of interest. CT allowed the deep soft tissue planes to be evaluated and provides a complement to the physical examination of the nasopharynx, oral pharynx, and skull base. MRI possesses many advantages over other imaging modalities. The ability to differentiate between inflammatory and neoplastic diseases is extremely important for tumor staging and patient management. At the present time it is not possible to predict the histology of a nasopharyngeal tumor, but the ability to differentiate between various histologic types would be of obvious importance. More experience is needed before this bridge can be crossed.