Postoperative and postradiation head and neck: role of magnetic resonance imaging

Interpretation of head and neck imaging after treatment for malignancy poses a challenge even for the experienced neuroradiologist. While computed tomography is often the preferred modality for assessment of the head and neck due to its faster acquisition, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is superior in the evaluation of nasopharyngeal, sinonasal and skull base tumors. In this article, we review pretherapy imaging protocols, common surgical approaches and reconstructions, postsurgical and postradiation MRI appearance and complications, MRI criteria for tumor recurrence and clinical applications of advanced MRI techniques as applicable to head and neck tumors.