. 2020 Jun 19;S0009-9260(20)30197-5.

 doi: 10.1016/j.crad.2020.05.011. Online ahead of print.

MRI of Benign Hyperplasia in the Nasopharynx: Is There an Association With Epstein-Barr Virus?

Q-Y Ai 1, A D King 2, T Y So 1, W K J Lam 3, F K F Mo 4, I O L Tse 3, J K S Woo 5, K C A Chan 3

Affiliations 

Affiliations

• 1Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China.
• 2Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China. Electronic address: king2015@cuhk.edu.hk.
• 3Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China; Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China.
• 4Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China; Department of Clinical Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China.
• 5Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China.

• PMID: 32571521
 
• DOI: 10.1016/j.crad.2020.05.011

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate whether there is an association between persistently positive plasma Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA and the presence and the change in benign hyperplasia.

Materials and methods: One hundred and seventeen participants with positive-plasma EBV-DNA, but without NPC from previous nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) screening, underwent follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and plasma EBV-DNA after 2 years. Logistic regression was used to analyse associations between MRI (benign hyperplasia on the follow-up MRI and change from 2 years earlier), and plasma EBV-DNA, smoking, and age.

Results: At follow-up, EBV-DNA positivity and smoking were independent parameters for the presence of benign hyperplasia (p=0.027 and 0.023 respectively). Compared with participants in whom EBV-DNA became negative (n=44/117 37.6%), those in whom EBV-DNA remained positive (n=73/117 62.4%) had a greater risk of benign hyperplasia developing (previous MRI normal), being stable or processing (52/73 71.2% versus 18/44 40.9%; p=0.001).

Conclusion: These results suggest a potential link between benign hyperplasia on MRI and the EBV. As EBV contributes to NPC oncogenesis, future MRI research is warranted to determine if persistent benign hyperplasia is a risk marker for development of NPC.

Copyright © 2020 The Royal College of Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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