Apparent diffusion coefficient measurements in the differentiation between benign and malignant neck masses

Aim

Evaluate the role of ADC value measurements in the differentiation between benign and malignant neck masses.

Methods

From April 2011 to February 2013, prospective study was conducted on 30 patients (17 male and 13 female), with the mean age 43.3 ± 6 years. Collected from wards and clinics of General Surgery and Otolaryngology Departments complaining from neck masses. MRI, Diffusion-Weighted Imaging (b value 0, 100, 500 and 1000 s/mm) and ADC value calculation were performed and the results were correlated with histopathological results and/or follow up.

Results

The present study include 30 patients (Lymphadenopathy {(n = 15) (11 as single entity), (4 associated with other entities)}, Focal thyroid swelling (n = 5), Salivary gland masses (n = 3) {Parotitis (1 case), Parotid carcinoma (2 cases)}, Nasopharyngeal masses (n = 5), Oropharyngeal masses (n = 2), Ludwig angina (n = 2) and Laryngeal masses (n = 2).The mean ADC of the malignant neck masses was (0.699 + 0.267 × 10^-3 mm²/s) while that of the benign masses was (1.879 + 0.751 × 10^-3 mm²/s).The results confirmed by biopsy in 23 cases and follow up (7 cases).The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and overall accuracy of quantitative diffusion WI in differentiating benign from malignant neck masses were 95.4%, 83.3%, 95.4%, 83%, and 92%.

Conclusion

ADC value calculation are promising noninvasive imaging approach that can be used in distinguishing between benign and malignant neck masses. Benign lesions have higher mean ADC values than malignant lesions, the cutoff value was 1.25 × 10^-3 mm²/s while 0.8 × 10^-3 mm²/s in thyroid lesions.     

MR弥散加权成像在子宫内膜良恶性病变中的鉴别价值

目的 探讨MR弥散加权成像(DWI)及其表观弥散系数(ADC)在子宫内膜良恶性病变中的鉴别价值.方法 回顾性分析55例经病理证实的子宫内膜病变,其中良性组14例(6例内膜增生、8例内膜息肉),恶性组41例(39例内膜癌、2例癌肉瘤).所有病例行常规MRI平扫和增强检查,以及DWI(弥散敏感因子b值为0、1000s/mm2),分析病变的DWI信号特点和测定ADC值.结果 良性组DWI图12例表现为稍高信号、2例表现为等信号、平均ADC值为(1.34±0.19)×103mm2/s;恶性组DWI图34例表现为明显高信号,余下7例表现为稍高信号,平均ADC值为(0.84±0.14)×103 mm2/s;恶性组ADC值明显小于良性组(P=0.042),以1.07×103 mm2/s为临界值诊断子宫内膜良恶性病变的敏感性、特异性、准确性高达92.9％、97.6％、96.4％.结论 DWI及ADC值测定有助于子宫内膜良恶性病变的鉴别诊断.     

Role of diffusion weighted MRI in differentiating typical from atypical meningiomas at 1.5 and 3T MRI

Purpose

Atypical and malignant meningiomas are considered to have a higher rate of recurrence and show aggressive behavior compared to benign variety. The purpose of our study was to study the role of diffusion weighted imaging and determination of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values and ADC ratios to differentiate typical meningiomas from atypical/malignant variety at 1.5 and 3T MRI.

Materials and methods

A total of 94 adult patients (48 patients at 3T and 46 patients at 1.5T) with pathologically proven meningiomas were retrospectively evaluated on conventional and diffusion weighted MRI. The signal intensity of the lesions on DW imaging was evaluated. ADC values and ADC ratios were calculated from lesion and contralateral normal white matter.

Results

94 lesions comprising of 66 benign and 28 atypical meningiomas were evaluated. The mean ADC values at 3T MRI were 0.82 ± 0.12 × 10⁻³ in benign (typical) meningiomas and 0.68 ± 0.10 × 10⁻³ in atypical meningiomas. At 1.5T, the mean ADC values of benign meningiomas were 0.83 ± 0.11 × 10⁻³ and 0.70 ± 0.09 × 10⁻³ in atypical meningiomas. The mean ADC ratios were 1.08 ± 0.17 and 0.85 ± 0.15 for benign and atypical meningiomas respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the mean ADC ratios and the mean ADC values of typical and atypical meningiomas (P < 0.001) at both 1.5T and 3T MRI.

Conclusion

DWI with calculation of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values and ADC ratios has a potential role in differentiating benign from atypical meningiomas at both 1.5 and 3T MRI. The differences in mean ADC values between benign and atypical meningiomas were similar at both 1.5 and 3T MRI.     

磁共振扩散加权成像及动态增强MRI在乳腺病变中的应用价值

目的 探讨月经周期对正常乳腺实质磁共振扩散加权成像(DWI)表观扩散系数(ADC)值的影响,并评价动态增强MRI(DCE-MRI)及DWI在乳腺病变鉴别诊断中的价值。方法 选取健康女性志愿者34例、乳腺病变患者96例,所有病例均经外科手术或针吸病理证实,其中良性病变者36例,共44个病灶;恶性病变者60例,共70个病灶...     

Role of diffusion weighted imaging and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in ring enhancing brain lesions

Aim of the work

To assess and compare the usefulness and efficacy of both diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹HMRS) in brain lesions with ring enhancement in post contrast T1WI and to determine which method is more effective.

Subjects and methods

Thirty patients with ring-enhanced brain lesions were classified into 2 groups, abscess group (11 patients) and tumor group (19 patients), were examined using diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and H-proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹HMRS).

Results

Restricted diffusion and low ADC value were seen in 9 (81%) patients of brain abscesses, however, free diffusion and high ADC value were found in 18 (94%) patients with necrotic brain tumor. The abscess group showed aminoacids, acetate and lactate in 9 patients and extra peak of succinate was found in 1 patient; however in the tumor group lactate alone was found in 12 patients, lactate and choline were seen in 5 patients, none of the patients showed amino acids, succinate or acetate.

Conclusion

Both DWI and ¹HMRS are useful and efficient imaging techniques in ring enhancing brain lesions and differentiate between pyogenic brain abscesses and necrotic tumors, but DWI is accurate, has less imaging time than ¹HMRS, also is available in many imaging centers.     

Diagnostic interplay of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and diffusion weighted images with apparent diffusion coefficient values in suspicious breast lesions

Aim of the work

To study the diagnostic performance of combined single voxel 1H-MRS and DW-MRI with ADC values as a non-contrast diagnostic tool, compared to the DCE-MRI, in suspicious breast lesions.

Diagnostic performance of combined elastosonography scoring and high-resolution ultrasonography for the differentiation of benign and malignant thyroid nodules

Aim

To evaluate the diagnostic performance of the combined use of elstosonography (USE) scoring and high-resolution ultrasonography (HRUS) for the differentiation of benign and malignant thyroid nodule.

Patients and methods

Forty-seven consecutive patients with 66 thyroid nodules were enrolled in the present study. Thyroid surgery had been already planned for all the patients. All of them were submitted to high-resolution ultrasonography and elastography scoring at the same sitting. The latter was determined with 5-point scoring method. The examination results were compared against pathological findings as the gold standard of reference.

Results

The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive, and negative predictive values of HRUS in the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules were 92.0%, 72.9%, 60.1%, 95.0%, and 63.1%, respectively, while that of ultrasound elastography scoring were 75.4%, 85.5%, 86.7%, 71.4%, and 90.5%, respectively. Combined use of both US techniques resulted in a higher diagnostic performance as it showed 95.4%, 94.8%, 95.2%, 82.3% and 98.8% sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive, and negative predictive values, respectively.

Conclusions

The use of combined USE and HRS for the differentiation of benign and malignant thyroid nodules resulted in a high diagnostic performance and a significant statistical difference as compared to HRUS or USE alone (P = 0.003).     

磁共振扩散加权成像在眼眶良恶性肿瘤鉴别中的应用

目的 探讨磁共振扩散加权成像(DWI)及表观扩散系数(ADC)在眼眶良恶性肿瘤鉴别诊断中的价值.方法 回顾性分析40例(良性组∶恶性组=25∶15)眼眶肿瘤病例的DWI及ADC图像,分析其DWI及ADC图像信号特点.逐层勾画肿瘤边界以获得整体感兴趣区(ROD,得到肿瘤平均ADC值(ADCM).眼眶良恶性肿瘤的信号特点比较采用Fisher精确检验,2组间ADCM值比较采用独立样本t检验.炎性假瘤及淋巴瘤的ADCM值比较采用Mann-Whitney U检验.采用受试者工作特征曲线(ROC)法分析AIDCM值对眼眶良恶性肿瘤的鉴别诊断价值.结果 眼眶良恶性肿瘤组间DWI图像信号特点无明显统计学差异(P＞0.05),2组ADC图像信号特点有明显统计学差异(P＜0.05).良性肿瘤的ADCM明显高于恶性肿瘤(P＜0.05),其中炎性假瘤的ADCM明显高于淋巴瘤(P＜0.05).以ADC值≥1.289×10-3 mm2/s判断眼眶肿瘤良恶性,可获得最优的诊断价值[曲线下面积(AUC)0.968;敏感度0.960;特异度0.933].结论 磁共振DWI及ADC值在眼眶肿瘤良恶性鉴别中具有重要价值.     

The influence of the b‐value combination on apparent diffusion coefficient based differentiation between malignant and benign tissue in cervical cancer

Purpose:

To analyze the influence of different b‐value combinations on apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC)‐based differentiation of known malignant and benign tissue in cervical cancer patients.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 35 patients with stage IB1, IB2, IIA cervical cancer underwent a 3.0T MRI scan prior to radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection. Conventional T1‐ and T2‐weighted sequences and a diffusion‐weighted sequence (b = 0, 150, 500, 1000 seconds/mm²) were performed. Regions‐of‐interest (ROI) were drawn on ADC maps derived from five different b‐value combinations (0, 500; 0, 150, 500; 0, 1000; 0, 150, 500, 1000; 150, 500, 1000 seconds/mm²). The influence of the b‐value combination on ADC‐based differentiation of benign and malignant tissue was analyzed using receiver‐operating‐characteristics curves.

Results:

For all b‐value combinations, ADCs were significantly lower (P < 0.001) in cervical malignancies (1.15 ± 0.21·10^?3; 1.10 ± 0.21·10^?3; 0.97 ± 0.18·10^?3; 0.97 ± 0.23·10^?3 and 0.85 ± 0.18·10^?3 mm²/second respectively to the aforementioned b‐value combinations) than in benign cervix (2.08 ± 0.31·10^?3; 2.00 ± 0.29·10^?3; 1.62 ± 0.23·10^?3; 1.54 ± 0.21·10^?3 and 1.42 ± 0.22·10^?3 mm²/second respectively). The diagnostic accuracy was high for all b‐value combinations and without statistical differences between the combinations.

Conclusion:

ADC‐based differentiation of benign from malignant cervical tissue is independent of the tested b‐value combinations. The results support the inclusion and possible pooling of studies using different b‐value combinations in meta‐analyses on ADC‐based tissue differentiation in cervical cancer. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2010;32:376–382. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

     

Combined apparent diffusion coefficient value (ADC) and 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in breast lesions: Benefits and limitations

Objective

This study aimed to assess the diagnostic value of a combined imaging protocol of diffusion-weighted MRI, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values, and MR spectroscopy(MRS) in discriminating benign and malignant breast lesions.

MR diffusion imaging and ADC measurement in solid and cystic mediastinal masses for differentiating benign from malignant lesions

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of MR diffusion imaging (DWI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurement of solid and cystic mediastinal masses to differentiate benign from malignant lesions.

Role of dynamic contrast-enhanced and diffusion weighted MRI in evaluation of hepatocellular carcinoma after chemoembolization

Purpose

To assess the role of dynamic contrast- enhanced and diffusion-weighted (DWI) MRI in the evaluation of the response of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after chemoembolization.

The role of MR diffusion in differentiation of malignant and benign hepatic focal lesions

Aim

To determine if focal liver masses could be differentiated as benign or malignant by DWI and ADC maps.

Methods and materials

Sixty focal liver lesions were scanned using 1.5 T MRI. DWI was performed with b 0, b 500 and b 1000 gradients with ADC measurements. Comparison of mean ADC values between each benign and malignant lesion was done. Reference standard of diagnosis was obtained by correlating DWI with histopathologic findings and imaging follow-up. The accuracies of DWI and ADC values were assessed with the Student’s t test, and cut-off values were determined with receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.

Results

When ADC value of 1.0 × 10⁻³ mm²/s was used as a threshold value for differentiation of malignant tumors from benign lesions, sensitivity was 90.3%, specificity 78.57% and accuracy 86.7%. The best result was obtained with the use of ADC cut off value (at b 500) of 1.5 × 10⁻³ mm²/s and ADC cut off value (at b 1000) of 1.0 × 10⁻³ mm²/s, with 90.3% sensitivity, 92.86% specificity, 91.1% accuracy, 96.6% positive predictive value and 81.3% negative predictive value.

Conclusion

DWI and ADC map is a useful tool in differential diagnosis of malignant from benign liver lesions.     

The added value of qualitative and quantitative diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) in differentiating benign from malignant breast lesions

Objective

To evaluate the role of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) with calculation of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value in characterizing benign and malignant breast lesions.

Role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including diffusion weighted images (DWIs) in assessment of parotid gland masses with histopathological correlation

Aim

Detect the most reliable MR signs differentiating between benign and malignant parotid masses & assess the role of ADC value calculation in the determination of the parotid lesions nature. Patient and method: Prospective study carried on 48 patients (21 male and 27 female) presented with parotid masses. They underwent MRI, diffusion weighted images (DWIs) with apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value calculation. Results were correlated with histopathological data.

The significance of added ADC value to conventional MR imaging in differentiation between benign and malignant ovarian neoplasms

Purpose

To highlight the role of ADC value measurement in differentiating benign from malignant ovarian tumors.

Materials and methods

Twenty patients with ovarian neoplasms underwent conventional MRI including ADC value calculation before surgery. Retrospective analysis of the pathological specimen with lesion morphology, signal characteristics, enhancement criteria and correlation with the appearance at DWI followed by ADC value measurement were obtained.

Results

Twenty patients with ovarian mass lesions were included. They were divided into purely solid, purely cystic and complex solid/cystic lesions. All solid malignant lesions showed diffusion restriction as well as the wall and septations of most malignant cystic lesion however, except one case. All benign lesions did not display diffusion restriction in DWI. The best cut off value of ADC to discriminate between benign and malignant lesions was 0.9 with specificity of 100%, sensitivity of 88.9%, NPV of 75%, PPV of 100% and accuracy of 91.7%.

Conclusion

Addition of ADC value measurement to conventional MRI increases its specificity from 78.6% to 85.7% which could be useful in differentiating benign from malignant lesions.     

Role of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in differentiating between benign and malignant breast lesions

Objective

To assess the role of DWI and ADC in differentiating between benign and malignant breast lesions.

Materials and methods

51 patients (age range 24–66 years; mean age 48 years) were included in our study. MRI was done using bilateral fat-suppressed T2- weighted fast spin-echo, STIR, axial T1-weighted fast spin-echo. DWI series were acquired using echo planar imaging pulse sequences incorporated with diffusion gradients and finally dynamic contrast enhancement study was done.

Results

Sixty three lesions were detected in 51 patients included in our study. Twenty one lesions were malignant, three lesions were intermediate and twenty two lesions were fibroadenoma according to the final histopathological study and seventeen lesions were breast cysts. A total of 21 lesions showed lower ADC values than benign lesions and were in the range of 0.76–1.29 × 10⁻³ mm²/s and were diagnosed as malignant breast lesions. The sensitivity and specificity for DWI in the differentiating malignant from benign breast lesions were calculated and showed 95.4% and 97.5%, respectively.

Conclusion

DWI is easy to obtain in short scan time and easy to evaluate, and ADC values can differentiate between benign and malignant breast lesions with high sensitivity and specificity.     

单b值磁共振DWI对肺部良恶性病变的诊断价值

目的:探讨单b值MR扩散加权成像对肺部良恶性病变的诊断意义.方法:56例肺结节患者(≥6 mm)行常规MRI及EPI-DWI(b=0、500 s/mm2)检查,所有病灶经病理证实,其中恶性40例,良性16例.以脊髓为参照物,将病灶在DWI图像上的信号强度(SI)分为5个等级:依次为明显低于脊髓、稍低于脊髓、与脊髓信号相同、稍高于脊髓和明显高于脊髓.同时测量病灶、脊髓和肌肉的SI和ADC值,计算SI病灶/SI脊髓(LSRSI)、SI病灶/SI~ (LMRSI)、ADC病灶/ADC脊髓(LSRADC)和ADC病灶/ADC肌肉 (LMRADC).采用Mann-Whitney U检验评价良恶性病灶SI评分、ADC值、LSRSI、LMRSI、LSRADC和LMRADC的差异,采用Kruskal-Wallis H检验分析肺癌不同病理类型之间各参数的差异,采用ROC曲线评估上述各参数对肺部良恶病变的鉴别诊断效能.结果:①SI评分:恶性肿瘤SI评分均明显高于良性病变(P=0.005),以≥3.0分为阈值,SI评分诊断良恶性病变的的敏感度、特异度及符合率分别为67.5％、68.8％和67.9％;小细胞肺癌的SI评分明显高于非小细胞肺癌,而鳞癌、腺癌和其它类型恶性肿瘤之间SI评分的差异无统计学意义.②ADC、LSRSI、LMRSI、LSRADC和LMRADC值:良性病变依次为(1.91±0.70)×10-3mm2/s、0.67±0.42、1.27±0.80、0.83±0.27、1.13±0.41,恶性病变依次为(1.42±0.46)×10-3mm2/s、0.90±0.34、1.85±0.92、0.69±0.29和0.82±0.29,恶性病变的ADC、LSRADC和LMRADC值明显低于良性病变(P值分别为0.003、0.034和0.002),LSRSI、LMRSI明显高于良性病变(P值分别为0.022和0.025).③ADC值取1.6×10-3mm2/s时鉴别良恶性病变的诊断效能最优(诊断敏感度、特异度和符合率分别为80.0％、75.0％和78.6％).④小细胞肺癌的LSRI、LMRSI明显高于非小细胞肺癌(P＜0.05),腺癌与鳞癌之间各参数的差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论:DWI(b=500s/mm2)定量参数测量能够有效鉴别肺部良恶性病变,ADC值对鉴别肺部良恶性病变的敏感性、特异性和准确性最高,但对不同病理类型肺癌的诊断鉴别诊断价值较小,信号强度评分、相对信号强度值对小细胞与非小细胞肺癌的鉴别诊断有一定价值.     

Role of diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging in differentiation of benign and malignant thyroid nodules

Objective

Is to evaluate the potential application of diffusion-weighted echo planar imaging in the differentiation of benign and malignant thyroid nodules in patients referred for FNAC and to correlate the imaging patterns & values of these lesions with their pathological nature.