PET/MRI to Enhance Precision Guidance in Head and Neck Radiation Treatment Planning

The purpose of this study is to evaluate this new technology available at the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center in the setting of head and neck cancer radiation treatment planning. This study will also provide preliminary data critical to the development of multi-parametric, multi-modality quantitative imaging biomarkers and data analysis models for prediction of outcome in both tumors and normal tissue, which are essential for patient-specific adaptive therapy. All participants will undergo a diagnostic PET/CT and a Radiation Treatment Planning CT per SOC procedures. In addition, all participants will undergo an additional imaging set consisting of a PET/MRI. It is anticipated that most patients will undergo the PET/MRI on the same day as their PET/CT negating the need for a second injection of the FDG radioisotope used for SOC PET imaging. All patients will receive gadolinium contrast per SOC dosing guidelines for the MRI portion of the PET/MRI. Both SOC MMRI pulse sequences and investigational sequences will be utilized in this study.