Differentiation of clinically benign and malignant breast lesions using diffusion-weighted imaging

PURPOSE: To evaluate the value of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in distinguishing between benign and malignant breast lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-two female subjects (mean age = 58 years, age range = 25-75 years) with histopathologically proven breast lesions underwent DWI of the breasts with a single-shot echo-planar imaging (EPI) sequence using large b values. The computed mean apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) of the breast lesions and cell density were then correlated. RESULTS: The ADCs varied substantially between benign breast lesions ((1.57 +/- 0.23) x 10(-3) mm(2)/second) and malignant breast lesions ((0.97 +/- 0.20) x 10(-3) mm(2)/second). In addition, the mean ADCs of the breast lesions correlated well with tumor cellularity (P < 0.01, r = -0.542). CONCLUSION: The ADC would be an effective parameter in distinguishing between malignant and benign breast lesions. Further, tumor cellularity has a significant influence on the ADCs obtained in both benign and malignant breast tumors.     

Diffusion-weighted MR imaging in pancreatic endocrine tumors correlated with histopathologic characteristics

Purpose:

To retrospectively assess apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) of different subtypes of pancreatic endocrine tumors based on the World Health Organization (WHO) classification system and analyze the potentially responsible histopathologic characteristics.

Materials and Methods:

Following Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, 18 patients with surgical pathology‐proven pancreatic endocrine tumors were evaluated. Tumors were subcategorized based on the WHO grading classification into well‐differentiated tumors with benign and uncertain behavior and endocrine carcinomas with well and poor differentiation. ADCs were measured on diffusion‐weighted (DW) images and compared using Student's t‐test and one‐way analysis of variance. The correlation between ADCs, tumor cellularity, Ki‐67 labeling index (an index of cell growth), and extracellular fibrosis were analyzed.

Results:

A difference was demonstrated in mean ADCs between well‐differentiated endocrine tumors (1.75 ± 0.53) and endocrine carcinomas (1.00 ± 0.19 × 10^?3mm²/sec) (P < 0.01). After excluding the three well‐differentiated endocrine tumors with benign behavior and marked fibrosis, a significant inverse correlation between ADC values and cellularity of endocrine tumors was observed. An inverse correlation was seen between Ki‐67 labeling index and ADC values (r = ?0.70; P < 0.01).

Conclusion:

Tumor cellularity and/or extracellular fibrosis may account for various ADCs in pancreatic endocrine tumors. ADC correlates well with the Ki‐67 labeling index and may help predict growth of endocrine tumors. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2011;33:1071–1079. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

     

Evaluating tumors and tumorlike lesions of the nasal cavity, the paranasal sinuses, and the adjacent skull base with diffusion-weighted MRI

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship of apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) to the malignant degree and the histopathological features of the lesions in the nasal cavity, the paranasal sinuses, and the adjacent skull base. METHOD: We evaluated the differences of the ADCs between the malignancies (n=18) and the benign lesions (n=6). The correlations between lesion ADCs and lesion cellularity, stroma, and necrosis were calculated. RESULTS: The ADCs of the malignancies were significantly lower than the benign lesions (P<0.0125). The ADCs were inversely correlated with tumor cellularity (P<0.01, r=-0.556). CONCLUSIONS: ADCs provide quantitative information that has limited utility in the differential diagnosis between malignant and benign lesions. The correlation of the histopathology of a lesion with ADCs is quite complex and affected by numerous tumor components besides cellularity including keratin, collagen, myxoid stroma, and necrosis.     

The role of diffusion-weighted imaging in patients with brain tumors.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Diffusion-weighted images (DWIs) have been used to study various diseases, particularly since echo-planar techniques shorten examination time. Our hypothesis was that DWIs and tumor apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) could provide additional useful information in the diagnosis of patients with brain tumors. METHODS: Using a 1.5-T MR unit, we examined 56 patients with histologically verified or clinically diagnosed brain tumors (17 gliomas, 21 metastatic tumors, and 18 meningiomas). We determined ADC values and signal intensities on DWIs both in the solid portion of the tumor and in the peritumoral, hyperintense areas on T2-weighted images. We also evaluated the correlation between ADC values and tumor cellularity in both gliomas and meningiomas. RESULTS: The ADCs of low-grade (grade II) astrocytomas were significantly higher (P =.0004) than those of other tumors. Among astrocytic tumors, ADCs were higher in grade II astrocytomas (1.14 +/- 0.18) than in glioblastomas (0.82 +/- 0.13). ADCs and DWIs were not useful in determining the presence of peritumoral neoplastic cell infiltration. The ADC values correlated with tumor cellularity for both astrocytic tumors (r = -.77) and meningiomas (r = -.67). CONCLUSION: The ADC may predict the degree of malignancy of astrocytic tumors, although there is some overlap between ADCs of grade II astrocytomas and glioblastomas.     

星形细胞肿瘤ADC与细胞密度导航导引下的对照研究

目的:分析脑肿瘤的ADC及细胞密度,评价肿瘤组织ADC值与细胞密度的相关性及ADC值在评价肿瘤良恶性中的价值.材料和方法:10例脑肿瘤病例术前行DWI及导航序列扫描,在导航手术中切除肿瘤时,同时在导航仪图像上标记相应肿瘤组织的部位,标本送病理检查.采用NIH Image软件分析肿瘤组织细胞密度.在导航标记图的指导下测量相应部位的ADC值及T2信号强度,比较ADC值,T2信号强度与细胞密度的相关性及其在评价肿瘤良、恶性中的作用.结果:10例脑肿瘤中毛细胞型星形细胞瘤1例,星形细胞瘤3例,间变性星形细胞瘤1例,胶质母细胞瘤5例.ADC值与肿瘤细胞密度呈明显负相关,r=0.74,P＜0.001,T2信号强度与细胞密度仅有轻度相关,r=0.33,P＜0.05.WHO1～2级肿瘤的ADC值1.30±0.16×10-3mm2/s,T2信号强度1374±336;3～4级肿瘤ADC值0.90±0.16×10-3mm2/s,T2信号强度1110±171,良、恶性肿瘤各种参数之间两组比较均有显著性差异(P＜0.01).结论:ADC是评价星形细胞肿瘤细胞密度的一个有效手段.ADC值低的部位可能是肿瘤细胞密度高的部位,也就可能是恶性程度最高的部位,对于立体定向选择活检部位非常有效.良、恶性星形细胞肿瘤ADC值有明显差异,结合常规MRI,ADC值可用于推测脑肿瘤的良、恶性.     

ADC值与乳腺浸润性导管癌恶性程度相关性分析

目的探讨雌激素受体阳性乳腺浸润性导管癌的表观扩散系数(ADC)值与肿瘤间质比、肿瘤大小及肿瘤分级的相关性。方法回顾性纳入术前行乳腺DWI和增强MRI扫描检查并经病理确诊为雌激素受体阳性乳腺浸润性导管癌的70例女性病人,年龄29~76岁,平均(49.58±6.81)岁。依据病理结果将病灶分为富间质型组和少间质型组,记录每个病灶的间质比并进行病理分级。在增强MRI影像上测量病灶最大直径,计算肿瘤ADC值。采用t检验、卡方检验和Mann-Whitney U检验分别比较2组间肿瘤最大直径、肿瘤分级及ADC值的差异。采用Spearman相关分析ADC值与肿瘤侵袭、恶性程度的相关性。结果富间质型组29例,少间质型组41例。2组间肿瘤分级的差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。与少间质型组相比,富间质型组的最大直径更小,而ADC值更大(均P<0.05)。肿瘤最大直径、间质比及分级均与ADC值呈负相关(分别rs=-0.651,rs=-0.636,rs=-0.451,均P<0.05)。结论乳腺浸润性导管癌的ADC值与肿瘤直径、肿瘤间质比和肿瘤分级密切相关,能较好地反映肿瘤的恶性程度。     

Quantitative apparent diffusion coefficients and T2 relaxation times in characterizing contrast enhancing brain tumors and regions of peritumoral edema

PURPOSE: To investigate the potential value and relationship of in vivo quantification of apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) and T2 relaxation times for characterizing brain tumor cellularity and tumor-related edema. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 26 patients with newly diagnosed gliomas, meningiomas, or metastases underwent diffusion-weighted and six-echo multisection T2-preparation imaging. Regions of interest (ROIs) were drawn on conventional MR images to include tumor (as defined by contrast agent enhancement) and immediate and peripheral edema. Areas of necrosis were excluded. Median values of ADCs and T2 in the ROIs were calculated. RESULTS: ADCs for gliomas were similar to those for meningiomas or metastases in all regions. Tumor T2 values for gliomas (159.5+/-30.6 msec) were significantly higher than those for meningiomas or metastases (125.0+/-31.1 msec; P=0.005). Immediate-edema T2 values for meningiomas or metastases (226.0+/-44.1 msec) were significantly higher than those for gliomas (203.5+/-32.8 msec; P=0.033). Peripheral-edema T2 values for gliomas (219.5+/-41.9 msec) were similar to those for meningiomas or metastases (202.5+/-26.5 msec; P=0.377). Both immediate- and peritumoral-edema ADCs and T2 values were significantly higher than those in tumor for both tumor types. ADCs and T2 values from all regions correlated significantly for gliomas (r=0.95; P<0.0001) and for meningiomas or metastases (r=0.81; P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: The higher immediate-edema T2 values for nonglial tumors than for gliomas suggest tumor-related edema (vasogenic vs. infiltrated) can be further characterized by using T2 values. There were significant correlations between ADC and T2 values.     

Apparent diffusion coefficients in oligodendroglial tumors characterized by genotype

PURPOSE: To investigate whether oligodendroglial tumors with or without 1p/19q loss differ in their diffusion-weighted imaging characteristics. Oligodendroglial tumors with or without 1p/19q loss differ in their therapeutic responsiveness and prognosis, and recent reports also suggest that these tumors may differ in their magnetic resonance characteristics and blood volume. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) were assessed in three grade II oligodendrogliomas, nine grade II and five grade III oligoastrocytomas with known 1p/19q status. Regions of interest (ROIs) were placed on ADC maps: 1) around tumor margins to generate pixel histograms; 2) over minimum and maximum tumor ADC; 3) on areas comparable to the highest choline (Cho)/creatine (Cr) ratio determined from chemical shift imaging (CSI); and 4) across tumor margins to measure the ADC transition coefficient (ATC). RESULTS: Tumor ADC was significantly different from normal brain (P < 0.001). ADC in regions of highest Cho/Cr was greater than minimum ADC and did not correlate with the Cho/Cr ratio. ADC and ATC were not significantly different between oligodendroglial subtypes or grades. Tumors with intact 1p/19q had higher maximum (P = 0.021) and histogram ADC (P = 0.015), and greater ATC (P = 0.001) compared to those with 1p/19q loss, which may reflect differences in edema and cellularity. CONCLUSION: This preliminary study identified differences in ADC and ATC between oligodendroglial tumor genotypes that may reflect underlying biology. Confirmation in a larger series is warranted.     

Diffusion Tensor Imaging Can Discriminate the Primary Cell Type of Intracranial Metastases for Patients with Lung Cancer

Purpose: Histopathological differentiation of primary lung cancer is clinically important. We aimed to investigate whether diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters of metastatic brain lesions could predict the histopathological types of the primary lung cancer.Methods: In total, 53 patients with 98 solid metastatic brain lesions of lung cancer were included. Lung tumors were subgrouped as non-small cell carcinoma (NSCLC) (n = 34) and small cell carcinoma (SCLC) (n = 19). Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and Fractional anisotropy (FA) values were calculated from solid enhanced part of the brain metastases. The association between FA and ADC values and histopathological subtype of the primary tumor was investigated.Results: The mean ADC and FA values obtained from the solid part of the brain metastases of SCLC were significantly lower than the NSCLC metastases (P < 0.001 and P = 0.003, respectively). ROC curve analysis showed diagnostic performance for mean ADC values (AUC=0.889, P = < 0.001) and FA values (AUC = 0.677, P = 0.002). Cut-off value of > 0.909 × 10^-3 mm²/s for mean ADC (Sensitivity = 80.3, Specificity = 83.8, PPV = 89.1, NPV = 72.1) and > 0.139 for FA values (Sensitivity = 80.3, Specificity = 54.1, PPV = 74.2, NPV= 62.5) revealed in differentiating NSCLC from NSCLC.Conclusion: DTI parameters of brain metastasis can discriminate SCLC and NSCLC. ADC and FA values of metastatic brain lesions due to the lung cancer may be an important tool to differentiate histopathological subgroups. DTI may guide clinicians for the management of intracranial metastatic lesions of lung cancer.     

Diffusion-weighted MRI in rectal cancer: apparent diffusion coefficient as a potential noninvasive marker of tumor aggressiveness

Purpose:

To assess the value of diffusion‐weighted MR imaging (DWI) as a potential noninvasive marker of tumor aggressiveness in rectal cancer, by analyzing the relationship between tumoral apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values and MRI and histological prognostic parameters.

Materials and Methods:

Fifty rectal cancer patients underwent primary staging MRI including DWI before surgery and neo‐adjuvant therapy. In 47, surgery was preceded by short‐course radiation therapy (n = 28) or long‐course chemoradiation therapy (n = 19). Mean tumor ADC was measured and compared between subgroups based on pretreatment CEA levels, MRI parameters (mesorectal fascia ‐ MRF ‐ status; T‐stage; N‐stage) and histological parameters (differentiation grade: poorly differentiated, poorly moderately differentiated, moderately differentiated, moderately well differentiated, well‐differentiated; lymphangiovascular invasion).

Results:

Mean tumor ADCs differ between MRF‐free versus MRF‐invaded tumors (P = 0.013), the groups of cN0 versus cN+ cancers (P = 0.011), and between the several groups of histological differentiation grades (P = 0.025). There was no significant difference in mean ADCs between the various groups of CEA levels, the T stage, and the presence of lymphangiovascular invasion.

Conclusion:

Lower ADC values were associated with a more aggressive tumor profile. Significant correlations were found between mean ADC values and radiological MRF status, N stage and differentiation grade. ADC has the potential to become an imaging biomarker of tumor aggressiveness profile. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2012;35:1365–1371. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Diffusion tensor MRI: Preliminary anisotropy measures and mapping of breast tumors

Purpose:

To investigate whether diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measures of anisotropy in breast tumors are different from normal breast tissue and can improve the discrimination between benign and malignant lesions.

Materials and Methods:

The study included 81 women with 105 breast lesions (76 malignant, 29 benign). DTI was performed during breast MRI examinations, and fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were measured for breast lesions and normal tissue in each subject. FA and ADC were compared between cancers, benign lesions, and normal tissue by univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results:

The FA of carcinomas (mean ± SD: 0.24 ± 0.07) was significantly lower than normal breast tissue in the same subjects (0.29 ± 0.07; P < 0.0001). Multiple logistic regression showed that FA and ADC were each independent discriminators of malignancy (P < 0.0001), and that FA improved discrimination between cancer and normal tissue over ADC alone. However, there was no difference in FA between malignant and benign lesions (P = 0.98).

Conclusion:

Diffusion anisotropy is significantly lower in breast cancers than normal tissue, which may reflect alterations in tissue organization. Our preliminary results suggest that FA adds incremental value over ADC alone for discriminating malignant from normal tissue but does not help with distinguishing benign from malignant lesions. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2010; 31: 339–347. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Relation between cancer cellularity and apparent diffusion coefficient values using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in breast cancer

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the relation between cancer cellularity and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects were 27 women who had undergone operation for breast cancer. There were 27 breast cancer lesions, 24 of which were invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) and 3 of which were noninvasive ductal carcinoma (NIDC). RESULTS: The mean ADC values of IDC, NIDC, and normal breasts were 1.07 +/- 0.19 .10(-3), 1.42 +/- 0.17 .10(-3), and 1.96 +/- 0.21 .10(-3) mm(2)/s, respectively. The mean ADC values of IDC and NIDC were significantly different from that of normal breasts (P < 0.001 each). The mean ADC values were also significantly different between IDC and NIDC (P < 0.001). There was no correlation between the ADC value and cancer cellularity. CONCLUSION: The mean ADC values for breast cancer were significantly different from that of normal breasts. The mean ADC value for breast cancer did not significantly correlate with cancer cellularity but did correlate with histological types.     

Analysis of diffusion tensor imaging metrics for gliomas grading at 3 T

Objectives

To assess the diagnostic accuracy of axial diffusivity (AD), radial diffusivity (RD), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA) values derived from DTI for grading of glial tumors, and to estimate the correlation between DTI parameters and tumor grades.

Methods

Seventy-eight patients with glial tumors underwent DTI. AD, RD, ADC and FA values of tumor, peritumoral edema and contralateral normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) and AD, RD, ADC and FA ratios: lowest average AD, RD, ADC and FA values in tumor or peritumoral edema to AD, RD, ADC and FA of NAWM were calculated.DTI parameters and tumor grades were analyzed statistically and with Pearson correlation. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was also performed.

Results

The differences in ADC, AD and RD tumor values, and ADC and RD tumor ratios were statistically significant between grades II and III, grades II and IV, and between grades II and III–IV. The AD tumor ratio differed significantly among all tumor grades.Tumor ADC, AD, RD and glial tumor grades were strongly correlated. In the ROC curve analysis, the area under the curve (AUC) of the parameter tumor ADC was the largest for distinguishing grade II from grades III to IV (98.5%), grade II from grade IV (98.9%) and grade II from grade III (97.0%).

Conclusion

ADC, RD and AD are useful DTI parameters for differentiation between low- and high-grade gliomas with a diagnostic accuracy of more than 90%. Our study revealed a good inverse correlation between ADC, RD, AD and WHO grades II–IV astrocytic tumors.     

In vivo diffusion-weighted MRI of the breast: potential for lesion characterization

PURPOSE: To investigate the potential of apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) in characterizing breast lesions in vivo.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two diffusion-weighted (DW) sequences were implemented on a 1.5 Tesla scanner, with low b-value orthogonal and high b-value tetrahedral sensitized sequences. The orthogonal sequence was evaluated on 16 normal volunteers and 23 patients with known lesion types (six benign and 17 malignant). The tetrahedral sequence was evaluated on a smaller number of subjects: two normal, two malignant, and two benign.RESULTS: The mean value of the ADC of the malignant tumors was reduced compared to that of the benign lesions and normal tissue. This finding was related to the increased cellularity of the malignant lesions. The ADC values were elevated for all tissue types with the low b-value sequence as compared to the high b-value sequence, indicating contributions from perfusion effects at the low b-values.CONCLUSION: The study clearly shows that DW-MRI can help characterize breast lesions in vivo.     

Lung carcinoma: diffusion-weighted mr imaging--preliminary evaluation with apparent diffusion coefficient

PURPOSE: To prospectively evaluate diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with a split acquisition of fast spin-echo signals for diffusion imaging (SPLICE) sequence for tissue characterization of lung carcinomas by using apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs). Materials and METHODS: An institutional review board approved this study; informed consent was obtained from patients. Thirty patients (nine women, 21 men; mean age, 68.0 years) with lung carcinoma underwent DW MR imaging with the SPLICE sequence. ADC of each lung carcinoma was calculated from DW MR images obtained with low and high b values. ADCs of lung carcinomas were statistically compared among histologic types. Nine surgically excised lung carcinomas were evaluated for correlation between ADCs and tumor cellularities. Analysis of variance was used to determine changes in ADCs and histologic lung carcinoma types. Spearman rank correlation was calculated between ADCs and tumor cellularities. RESULTS: ADCs for lung carcinomas were 1.63 x 10(-3) mm(2)/sec +/- 0.5 (mean +/- standard deviation) for squamous cell carcinoma, 2.12 x 10(-3) mm(2)/sec +/- 0.6 for adenocarcinoma, 1.30 x 10(-3) mm(2)/sec +/- 0.4 for large-cell carcinoma, and 2.09 x 10(-3) mm(2)/sec +/- 0.3 for small-cell carcinoma. ADC of adenocarcinoma was significantly higher than that of squamous cell carcinoma and large-cell carcinoma (P < .05). ADCs were 1.59 x 10(-3) mm(2)/sec +/- 0.5 and 1.70 x 10(-3) mm(2)/sec +/- 0.4 for moderately and poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, respectively. ADCs were 2.52 x 10(-3) mm(2)/sec +/- 0.4 and 1.44 x 10(-3) mm(2)/sec +/- 0.3 for well- and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, respectively. ADC of well-differentiated adenocarcinoma was significantly higher than that of moderately and poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma (P < .05). With the Spearman rank test, ADCs of lung carcinomas correlated well with tumor cellularities (Spearman coefficient, -0.75; P < .02). CONCLUSION: ADCs of lung carcinomas overlap, but ADCs of well-differentiated adenocarcinoma appear to be higher than those of other histologic lung carcinoma types.     

Diffusion‐weighted echo‐planar magnetic resonance imaging for the assessment of tumor cellularity in patients with soft‐tissue sarcomas

Purpose

To investigate the eligibility of diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) for the evaluation of tumor cellularity in patients with soft‐tissue sarcomas.

Materials and Methods

Thirty consecutive patients with a total of 31 histologically‐proven soft‐tissue sarcomas prospectively underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including DWI with echo‐planar imaging (EPI) technique immediately before open biopsy (N = 1) or tumor resection (N = 30). Fourteen patients had no previous anticancer treatment, 16 had received neoadjuvant therapy. Tumor cellularity as determined from histological sections was compared with minimum apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC).

Results

Tumor cellularity correlated well with minimum ADC in a linear fashion, with a Pearson correlation coefficient of –0.88 (95% confidence interval [CI]: –0.75 to –0.96). This relationship was not influenced by prior anticancer treatment. There was only a tendency toward lower ADC in tumor with higher grading but no significant dependency (P = 0.08).

Conclusion

DWI has proven useful for the assessment of tumor cellularity in soft‐tissue sarcomas. In result, DWI may be used as a powerful noninvasive tool to monitor responses of cytotoxic treatment as reflected by changes in tumor cellularity. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Quantitative diffusion imaging in implanted human breast tumors

Quantitative diffusion measurements were performed in tumors arising from inoculation of nude mice with two human breast cancer cell lines (MCF7 and T47D) to evaluate the specificity of this technique for characterizing solid tumors. ADC maps were compared to histology and correlated well with gross tumor morphology. Measured ADCs were highly specific for viable and necrotic tumor in the five T47D tumors included in this study (P < 0.02), while only two of the five MCF7 tumors studied developed distinguishable areas of necrosis. No statistically significant difference was observed in ADCs from viable tumor between the different cell lines (P > 0.05).     

Phyllodes tumor of the breast: correlation between MR findings and histologic grade

PURPOSE: To retrospectively evaluate the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings of phyllodes tumor of the breast and to compare these findings with the histologic grade. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Institutional review board approval and informed consent were obtained. The authors reviewed the MR findings in 30 female patients aged 16-73 years (mean, 40.2 years) with surgically confirmed phyllodes tumors. Analyzed MR findings included tumor shape, margin, internal enhancement, and size; signal intensity (SI) of tumor higher than that of normal breast tissue on T1-weighted images; SI of tumor lower than or equal to that of normal tissue on T2-weighted images; cyst wall appearance; kinetic curve assessment; and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC). The MR findings and histologic grade were statistically analyzed to determine whether any correlations existed. Significant MR findings were compared with histopathologic findings. RESULTS: Nineteen benign, six intermediate (characterized by five to nine cell reproductions at 10 high-power fields, pushing or infiltrative margins, moderate stromal cellularity, and atypia and overgrowth), and five malignant phyllodes tumors were assessed. Irregular cyst wall (P = .003), tumor SI lower than or equal to normal tissue SI on T2-weighted images (P = .005), and low ADC (P = .001) correlated significantly with histologic grade. Tumor SI higher than normal tissue SI on T1-weighted images was more frequent in the malignant (in three of five tumors) and intermediate (in three of six tumors) groups than in the benign group (in two of 19 tumors); however, it was not a significant finding (P = .024). Tumor SI higher than normal tissue SI on T1-weighted images and irregular cyst wall corresponded histopathologically to hemorrhagic infarction and necrosis, respectively. Tumor SI lower than or equal to normal tissue SI on T2-weighted images and low ADC corresponded histopathologically to stromal hypercellularity. Other findings were not significant. CONCLUSION: Several MR findings can be used to help determine the histologic grade of phyllodes breast tumors.     

非肿块型乳腺癌的 MRI 表现与 HER-2表达的相关性研究

目的：探讨非肿块型乳腺癌的 MRI 表现与人类表皮生长因子受体2(HER-2)表达的相关性。方法收集经病理证实的乳腺癌74例,术前 MRI 动态增强表现为非肿块样强化。使用免疫组化染色测定 HER-2的表达情况;应用χ2检验、Fisher 确切概率法及 Spearman 秩相关分析病灶的形态学特征、动态增强参数及表观扩散系数(ADC)值与 HER-2表达的相关性。结果肿瘤大小与 HER-2阳性表达呈正相关(r=0.341,P=0.003);ADC 值与 HER-2阳性表达呈正相关(r=0.317,P =0.006);峰值时间与 HER-2阳性表达呈负相关(r=-0.244,P=0.036);而病灶分布特征、内在强化方式及时间-信号强度曲线类型与 HER-2表达均无明显相关性(P 值均>0.05)。结论肿瘤大小、峰值时间及 ADC 值与 HER-2的表达有一定的相关性,可间接为非肿块型乳腺癌的临床治疗方案选择及预后评估提供参考依据。     

Evaluation of therapeutic response to concurrent chemoradiotherapy in patients with cervical cancer using diffusion‐weighted MR imaging

Purpose:

To investigate the changes in apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) in cervical cancer patients receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT), and to assess the relationship between tumor ADCs or changes in tumor ADCs and final tumor responses to therapy.

Materials and Methods:

Twenty‐four patients with cervical cancer who received CCRT were examined with 3 Tesla (T) MRI including diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI). All patients had three serial MR examinations: before therapy (pre‐Tx); at 4 weeks of therapy (mid‐Tx); and 1 month after completion of therapy (post‐Tx). At each examination, ADC was measured in tumors and normal gluteus muscles. Final tumor response as determined by change in tumor size or volume using MRI was correlated with tumor ADCs at each therapeutic time or changes in tumor ADCs at mid‐Tx.

Results:

From pre‐Tx to post‐Tx, mean tumor ADCs were 0.88, 1.30, and 1.47 × 10^?3 mm²/s in sequence (P < 0.001), while those of normal gluteus muscles were 1.24, 1.29, and 1.21 × 10^?3 mm²/s in sequence (P > 0.05). At mid‐Tx, tumor ADCs and changes in tumor ADCs had a significant correlation with final tumor size responses (P = 0.029 and 0.025, respectively). However, the tumor ADC values at pre‐Tx were not associated with the final tumor size response (P = 0.47). The final tumor volume response was not associated with tumor ADC at pre‐Tx or mid‐Tx (P > 0.05) or changes in tumor ADCs at mid‐Tx (P > 0.05).

Conclusion:

DWI may have potentials in evaluating the therapeutic response to CCRT in patients with cervical cancer. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2013;37:187–193. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.