Role of apparent diffusion coefficient values in differentiation between malignant and benign solitary thyroid nodules

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Accurate imaging characterization of a solitary thyroid nodule has been clearly problematic. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in the differentiation between malignant and benign solitary thyroid nodules.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study was conducted in 67 consecutive patients with solitary thyroid nodules who underwent diffusion MR imaging of the thyroid gland. Diffusion-weighted MR images were acquired with b factors of 0, 250, and 500 s/mm² by using single-shot echo-planar imaging. ADC maps were reconstructed. The ADC values of the solitary thyroid nodules were calculated and correlated with the results of histopathologic examination. Statistical analysis was performed.RESULTS: The mean ADC value of malignant solitary thyroid nodules was 0.73 ± 0.19 × 10⁻³ mm²/s and of benign nodules was 1.8 ± 0.27 × 10⁻³ mm²/s. The mean ADC values of malignant nodules were significantly lower than those of benign ones (P = .0001). There were no significant differences between the mean ADC values of various malignant thyroid nodules, but there were significant differences between the subtypes of benign thyroid nodules (P = .0001). An ADC value of 0.98 × 10⁻³ mm²/s was proved as a cutoff value differentiating between benign and malignant nodules, with 97.5%, 91.7%, and 98.9% sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy, respectively.CONCLUSION: The ADC value is a new promising noninvasive imaging approach used for differentiating malignant from benign solitary thyroid nodules.

Nodular thyroid is commonly detected on palpation in 4%–7% of the population,^1,2 on sonographic examination in 10%–40%, and by pathologic examination at autopsy in 50%.^3,4 In contrast, compared with the high prevalence of nodular thyroid disease, thyroid cancer is rare. The challenge of imaging thyroid nodules is to reassure most patients who have benign disease and to diagnose the minority of patients who will prove to have a malignancy.^5,6Ultrasonography has been used in the assessment of the thyroid nodules as a primary imaging technique.^2,7,8 Currently, there is no single sonographic criterion that can reliably distinguish benign from malignant thyroid nodules.^4,9 The results of predicting thyroid cancer with color Doppler sonography are controversial, with some reporting that Doppler sonography is helpful and others reporting that it did not improve diagnostic accuracy.^4,5,10,11 The hazards of radiation exposure are unavoidable in nuclear scintigraphy,² and not all functioning nodules on scintigraphy are benign.^6,9 The risk of cancer in a cold nodule is 4 times more common than in a hot nodule.^3,6 Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) with cytologic evaluation is commonly used, but it is inconclusive in 15%–20% of patients, in addition to the possible, but less likely, associated hemorrhage.^2,4 The incidence of cancer in patients with thyroid nodules selected for FNAB is approximately 9.2%–13%.⁵ FNAB is considered an effective method for differentiating between benign and malignant thyroid nodules.^4,7,12–14Routine T1- and T2-weighted MR imaging has a limited role in the evaluation of thyroid nodules. It cannot distinguish benign from malignant nodules or assess the functional status of thyroid nodules.^12–15 Diffusion-weighted MR imaging has been used to characterize head and neck tumors, in which there are significant differences in the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of malignant tumors and benign lesions.^16–19 Tezuka et al,²⁰ in their study using diffusion-weighted MR imaging to assess the thyroid function, reported that the ADC values of patients with Grave''s disease exceeded those of patients with subacute thyroiditis, with a sensitivity and specificity of 75% and 80%, respectively, in differentiating between both disease entities. They concluded that diffusion-weighted MR imaging could be clinically important in evaluating the thyroid function. To our knowledge, there have been no articles about diffusion-weighted MR imaging evaluating thyroid nodules.The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of ADC values in differentiating between malignant and benign solitary thyroid nodules.     

Initial experience of 3 tesla apparent diffusion coefficient values in differentiating benign and malignant thyroid nodules

Purpose:

To evaluate the role of diffusion‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWMRI) in differentiating benign and malignant thyroid nodules using a 3 Tesla (T) MRI scanner.

Materials and Methods:

Twenty‐eight nodules in 25 patients and 14 healthy control cases were included in the study. DWMRI was acquired with 6 b values with a 3T MRI scanner. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of the nodules were calculated from reconstructed ADC map images and were compared with the final histopathological diagnoses.

Results:

The mean ADC value of the benign nodules was 1548 ± 353.4 (×10^?6 mm²/s), and the mean ADC of the malignant nodules was 814 ± 177.12 (×10^?6 mm²/s). The normal thyroid tissue had a mean ADC value of 1323.43 ± 210.35 × 10^?6 mm²/s (958–1689 × 10^?6 mm²/s) in the healthy control group. The ADC values were significantly different among the three groups (P = 0.001). An ADC value of 905 × 10^?6 mm²/s was determined to be the cutoff value for differentiating benign and malignant nodules, with 90% (55.5–98.3) sensitivity and 100% (81.3–100.0) specificity.

Conclusion:

This study suggests that the ADC values of nodules measured with a 3T MRI scanner could help in differentiating benign thyroid nodules from malignant nodules. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2013;37:1077–1082. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

     

Role of apparent diffusion coefficient values and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in differentiation between benign and malignant thyroid nodules

ObjectiveThe purpose of the study was to differentiate between benign and malignant thyroid nodules using nodule-spinal cord signal intensity and nodule apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) ratios on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI).Materials and MethodsForty-four patients (27 females, 17 males; mean age, 49 years) with nodules who underwent DW-MRI were included in this study. The images were acquired with 0, 50, 400 and 1000 s/mm² b values. ADC maps were calculated afterwards. Fine needle aspiration biopsies (FNAB) were performed at the same day with DW-MRI acquisition. The diagnosis in patients where malignity was detected after FNAB was confirmed by histopathologic analysis of the operation material. The signal intensities of the spinal cord and the nodule were measured additionally, over b-1000 diffusion-weighted images. Nodule/cord signal intensity (SI) ratios were obtained and the digital values were calculated by dividing to ADC values estimated for each nodule. Statistical analysis was performed.ResultsThe (nodule SI-cord SI)/nodule ADC ratio is calculated in the DW images, and a statistically significant relationship was found between this ratio and the histopathology of the nodules (P<.001). The ratio was determined as 0.27 in benign and 0.86 in malignant lesions. The result of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was statistically significant, and the area under curve (100%) was considerably high. The threshold value was calculated as 0.56 according to the ROC analysis. According to this threshold value, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy rates for (nodule SI/cord SI)/ADC ratios in differentiating benign from malignant thyroid nodules are calculated as 100%, 97%, 83%, 100%, and 98%, respectively.ConclusionWe have found that (nodule/cord SI)/nodule ADC ratio has the highest values for sensitivity and specificity among the tests defined for characterization of nodules.     

The role of low b value diffusion-weighted MR imaging and the apparent diffusion coefficient values in diagnosis of breasttnmors

目的:探讨小b值扩散加权成像(DWI)在诊断乳腺癌中的价值.方法:采用Philips 1.5T磁共振扫描仪对48例乳腺疾病患者行常规SE序列扫描、单次激发自旋回波-回波平面成像(SE-EPI)序列DWI及动态增强扫描.48例患者共检出53个病灶,其中良性肿瘤29个,恶性肿瘤24个,均经手术及病理证实;选择健康志愿者20例作为对照组.分析病灶与正常腺体组织的DWI信号特点,定量比较分析病变组与对照组之间及良恶性组之间表现扩散系数(ADC)值的差异.结果:除2例原位癌及1例小纤维瘤未显示外,其他良恶性病变DWI均可显示.恶性组平均ADC值[(1.41±0.37)×10-3mm2/s]明显低于对照组[(2.01±0.36)×10-3mm2/s]和良性组[(1.98±0.42)×10-3mm2/s],差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05).良性组ADC值与对照组比较,差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).以ADC值作为诊断指标进行ROC分析,诊断阈值为1.542×10-3 mm2/s,诊断敏感度为86.4％,特异度为89.3％.结论:ADC值是鉴别乳腺癌有价值的参数,小b值扩散加权成像对于乳腺癌的鉴别诊断具有重要价值.     

The efficacy of apparent diffusion coefficient value calculation in differentiation between malignant and benign thyroid nodules

PurposeTo evaluate the efficacy of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) calculation in differentiation between malignant and benign thyroid nodules.Methods and materialsA prospective study was conducted in 52 patients. Diffusion-weighted echoplanar imaging was performed and b factors were taken as 0 and 400 s/mm².ResultsThe mean ADC value for malignant thyroid nodules was 0.829±0.179×10^?3 mm²/s and that for benign thyroid nodules was 1.984±0.482×10^?3 mm²/s. The mean ADC value for malignant nodules was significantly lower than that for benign nodules (P=.0001).ConclusionADC value calculation is an effective method in differentiation of malignant thyroid nodules from benign ones.     

小b值扩散加权成像对乳腺癌的诊断价值

目的:探讨小b值扩散加权成像(DWI)在诊断乳腺癌中的价值.方法:采用Philips 1.5T磁共振扫描仪对48例乳腺疾病患者行常规SE序列扫描、单次激发自旋回波-回波平面成像(SE-EPI)序列DWI及动态增强扫描.48例患者共检出53个病灶,其中良性肿瘤29个,恶性肿瘤24个,均经手术及病理证实;选择健康志愿者20...     

MR imaging of the thyroid: correlation between apparent diffusion coefficient and thyroid gland scintigraphy

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of echo-planar MR imaging for assessing the thyroid function and confirm the clinical use of MR imaging for thyroid diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-four patients with a variety of thyroid disorders (24 Graves disease; five subacute thyroiditis; five Hashimoto thyroiditis) were examined using T1-, T2-, and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and thyroid scintigraphy with Tc-99m pertechnetate. RESULTS: The ADC values obtained from the diffusion-weighted images of the patients with Graves disease were significantly higher than those of patients with subacute hyroiditis and Hashimoto thyroiditis, though no difference among those disorders was observed on T1- and T2-weighted images. Based on the ADC value, anisotropy was not observed in the thyroid gland. An ADC value of 1.82 x 10(-3) mm(2)/second or higher indicated the presence of Graves disease (sensitivity 75%, specificity 80%). CONCLUSION: Diffusion-weighted MR images may be of value for the diagnosis of thyroid diseases and could be clinically important in the evaluation of thyroid function.     

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.

The role of apparent diffusion coefficient values in differentiation between adrenal masses

The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in differentiation between solid adrenal masses. The ADC values of 73 adrenal lesions (54 benign, 19 malignant) in 69 patients were measured at b 100, 600 and 1000 gradients on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI). No statistically significant difference was found between ADC values of benign and malignant adrenal masses, nonadenomatous benign adrenal masses and malignant adrenal masses, adrenal adenomas and nonadenomatous lesions, adenomas and metastases, adenomas and pheochromocytomas, metastases and pheochromocytomas. ADC values are not helpful in the differentiation between solid adrenal masses.     

磁共振扩散加权成像在乳腺良性与恶性病变中表观扩散系数值分布的特征比较研究简

目的：对乳腺良恶性病变及其周围腺体的磁共振扩散加权成像（DWI）中表观扩散系数（ADC）值分布特征进行分析。方法回顾性分析经病理证实的41个浸润性导管癌和23个纤维腺瘤的DWI图像,测量瘤区（G1）、近瘤区（G2）、远瘤区（G3）及对侧正常腺体区（G4）ADC值,比较不同区域的分布及差异。结果41个浸润性导管癌DWI为高信号,平均ADC值（1．13±0．16）×10-3 mm2/s,而23例纤维腺瘤DWI为等或略高信号为主,平均ADC值（1．69±0．18）×10-3 mm2/s,两者ADC值比较差异有统计学意义（t＝12．31,P＜0．05）。浸润性导管癌自G1区至G4区ADC值逐渐升高,其中G1与G4区、G2与G4区、G1与G2区ADC值比较差异有统计学意义（P＜0．05）,G3与G4区的ADC值比较差异无统计学意义（P＞0．05）;纤维腺瘤各区与对侧正常腺体G4区之间及G1与G2区之间ADC值比较差异均无统计学意义（P＞0．05）。结论 ADC值在浸润性导管癌内部及周围区域的分布有一定的规律,通过对近瘤区ADC值测量,有助于判断乳腺癌是否周围浸润及为保乳手术提供依据。     

表观扩散系数值鉴别良恶性骨肿瘤及肿瘤样病变的价值

目的 探讨MR DWI的ADC值鉴别良、恶性骨肿瘤及肿瘤样病变的价值.方法 对18例良性骨肿瘤及肿瘤样病变和26例恶性骨肿瘤行DWI.采用单激发EPI序列,3个扩散敏感梯度,b值分别为0.500、1000 s/nun2.在ADC图上测量每个病变的最低、最高和整体ADC值.结果 良性骨肿瘤及肿瘤样病变的最低ADC值[(1.28±0.49)×10-3mm2/s]高于恶性骨肿瘤[(0.92±0.35)×10-3mm2/s,t=2.839,P<0.01],整体ADC值[(1.62±0.51)×10-3mm2/s]也高于恶性骨肿瘤[(1.21±0.36)×10-3mm2mm/s,t=3.092,P<0.01],但两者都有很大重叠.良性骨肿瘤及肿瘤样病变的最高ADC值[(2.02±0.55)×10-3mm2/s]与恶性骨肿瘤的最高ADC值[(1.71±0.65)×10-3mm2/s]差异无统计学意义(t:1.669,P＞0.05).去掉以囊腔为主的骨囊肿及动脉瘤样骨囊肿病例,则良性骨肿瘤及肿瘤样病变的最低、最高和整体ADC值分别为(1.11±0.31)×10-3mm2/s、(1.88±0.49)×10-3mm2/s和(1.45±0.35)×10-3mm2/s,与恶性骨肿瘤比较差异无统计学意义(t值分别为1.728、0.964、2.012,P值均>0.05).结论 ADC值不能鉴别良、恶性骨肿瘤及肿瘤样病变.     

使用ADC值评估正常及退变腰椎间盘的初步研究

目的:使用平均表观弥散系数(apparent diffusion coefficient,ADC)值可反映成人腰椎间盘中的水分子运动,探讨椎间盘ADC值和MR表现是否有相关性。方法:对28例患者及22名志愿者进行腰椎的MR弥散加权成像,测量每个椎间盘的ADC值。根据矢状位T2WI的MR表现,将椎间盘分为正常组和退变组。对比正常和退变椎间盘的平均ADC值,并对部位进行相关研究。结果:总计50名参与者中除3例因伪影明显未行ADC值测量外,余47例均成功行DWI及ADC值测量。正常和退变椎间盘的平均ADC值分别为2.32±0.54(×10-3mm2/s)和1.87±0.42(×10-3mm2/s)。ADC值与部位有明显的统计学相关性。结论:对比正常腰椎间盘,退变椎间盘的ADC值有明显的减低。且邻近骶尾部的椎间盘较头侧椎间盘的ADC值低。     

Glucocorticoid treatment of brain tumor patients: changes of apparent diffusion coefficient values measured by MR diffusion imaging

Glucocorticoids (GCC) generally are administered to patients with brain tumors to relieve neurological symptoms by decreasing the water content in a peritumoral zone of edema. We hypothesized that diffusion imaging and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values could detect subtle changes of water content in brain tumors and in peritumoral edema after GCC therapy. The study consisted of 13 patients with intra-axial brain tumor, and ADC was measured in the tumor, within peritumoral edema, and in normal white matter remote from the tumor before and after GCC therapy. ADC also was measured in normal white matter in four control patients with no intracranial disease who were treated with GCC for other indications. Conventional MR images showed no visually evident interval change in tumor size or the extent of peritumoral edema in any subject after GCC therapy, which nonetheless resulted in a decrease in mean ADC of 7.0% in tumors (P<0.05), 1.8% in peritumoral edema (P>0.05, not significant) and 5.8% in normal white matter (P<0.05). In patients with no intracranial disease, GCC therapy decreased mean ADC in white matter by 5.4% (P<0.05). ADC measurement can demonstrate subtle changes in the brain after GCC therapy that cannot be observed by conventional MR imaging. Measurement of ADC proved to be a sensitive means of assessing the effect of GCC therapy, even in the absence of visually discernible changes in conventional MR images.     

Characterization of head and neck lesions with diffusion-weighted MR imaging and the apparent diffusion coefficient values

Purpose

The aim of this study was to determine the role of diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI) and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in characterization of head and neck lesions.

Patients and methods

MR imaging including diffusion-weighted sequences was performed on 43 patients presented with head and neck lesions. Images were obtained with a diffusion-weighted factor (b factor) of 100, 500, and 1000 s/mm². ADC maps were reconstructed, and the ADC value of the lesions was calculated.

Results

The mean ADC value of malignant tumors was (1.02 ± 0.22) × 10⁻³ mm²/s (n = 31). The mean ADC value of benign tumors was (1.62 ± 0.27) × 10⁻³ mm²/s (n = 12). The mean ADC of lymphomas was significantly lower than that of carcinomas. The difference in the ADC value between the malignant tumors and benign lesions was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Selection of (1.2) × 10⁻³ mm²/s as a threshold value of ADC for differentiating benign from malignant tumors yielded the best result, with an accuracy of 94%, sensitivity of 95%, specificity of 92%, positive predictive value of 92% and negative predictive value of 94%.

Conclusion

DWI and the ADC measurement are promising, non-invasive imaging approach that can be used for characterization of head and neck lesions. It can help differentiate malignant tumors from benign lesions.     

Neuro-Behcet''s disease: diffusion MR imaging and proton MR spectroscopy

We herein report the case of a 53-year-old woman with Behcet's disease and an acute T2-hyperintense lesion in left side of the pons. Echo-planar "trace" diffusion MR imaging revealed high signal intensity changes at the lesion site on b = 1000 s/mm(2) images, initially suggesting restricted diffusion. On corresponding apparent diffusion coefficient maps, however, the lesion had high signal intensity and high apparent diffusion coefficient values (1.22 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s), compared with the contralateral normal side of the pons (0.86 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s) and compared with the normal temporal white matter (0.80 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s). This was consistent with the presence of increased diffusion, hence vasogenic edema. Proton MR spectroscopy excluded acute infarction. This particular pattern (high signal intensity on b = 1000 s/mm(2) images in association with high apparent diffusion coefficient values) likely represented the acute inflammatory process associated with disrupted brain-blood barrier in the fulminant form of neuro-Behcet's disease. Follow-up examinations 相似文献   

High-grade bladder cancer: association of the apparent diffusion coefficient with metastatic disease: preliminary results

Purpose:

To assess the utility of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values obtained from diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) in distinguishing high‐grade bladder cancer with and without metastatic disease.

Materials and Methods:

Seventeen patients with histologically confirmed high‐grade bladder cancer who underwent pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 1.5T including DWI using b‐values of 0, 400, and 800 sec/mm² were assessed. Histologic findings and follow‐up imaging were used to establish the reference standard in terms of metastatic disease. Two radiologists independently recorded ADC of all lesions following a training session, with their results averaged. Mann–Whitney U‐test, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were used for data analysis.

Results:

Metastatic disease was characterized as present or absent in eight and nine patients, respectively. ADC was significantly lower among cases with metastatic disease than among cases without metastatic disease, both within the entire cohort (1.07 ± 0.18 × 10^?3 mm²/s vs. 1.45 ± 0.22 × 10^?3 mm²/s; P = 0.002) and within the subset of patients with muscle‐invasive tumor (1.06 ± 0.19 × 10^?3 mm²/s vs. 1.45 ± 0.23 × 10^?3 mm²/s; P = 0.017). Area under the ROC curve for identifying metastatic disease using ADC was 0.944, with optimal threshold of 1.21 × 10^?3 mm²/s, which was associated with a sensitivity of 87.5%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, and negative predictive value of 90.0%. Interreader agreement for ADC was excellent (ICC = 0.91).

Conclusion:

In this preliminary study, ADC was significantly different between cases of high‐grade urothelial carcinoma of the bladder with and without metastatic disease. These results may have value in assessing the metastatic potential of patients with localized high‐grade tumors of the bladder. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2012;35:1478–1483. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

     

The effect of hypertension on the apparent diffusion coefficient values of kidneys

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to diagnose hypertension- induced renal microvascular dysfunction using renal diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to identify any correlation between blood pressure level and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 77 consecutive patients (41 women and 36 men). The patients were divided into 4 groups according to their blood pressure level. Group 1 consisted of normotensive control patients; group 2, pre-hypertensive patients; group 3, stage 1 hypertensive patients; and group 4, stage 2 hypertensive patients. All patients underwent transverse diffusion-weighted multi-section echo-planar MRI. In the transverse ADC maps, rectangular regions of interest were placed in the cortex at 3 sites (upper, middle, and lower pole) of each kidney. The ADCs of the kidneys were calculated separately for low, average, and high b values to enable the differentiation of the relative influence of the perfusion fraction and true diffusion. In addition, a multi-slab balanced turbo field-echo magnetic resonance angiographic technique (without the use of a contrast agent) was used to exclude renal artery stenosis. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in age, and no significant correlation between the ADC values of both kidneys and blood pressure level in each group (P > 0.05). In addition, the ADC values of patients with microalbuminuria did not differ from those of the other patients (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION Despite the end-organ damage caused by hypertension, renal microvascular functions were preserved and hypertension did not affect ADC values.     

评价ADC值对橄榄桥小脑萎缩的诊断价值

目的 评价表现扩散系数(ADC)值对橄榄桥小脑萎缩(OPCA)的诊断价值.方法 (1)选取经临床诊断为OPCA的52例患者及25列年龄匹配的正常人作为对照组,行常规MRI检查(T1 WI、T2 WI、DWI).根据MRI表现将患者分为轻度组和重度组.轻度组:小脑脑沟增多、脑干稍变细,桥脑无明显改变;重度组:小脑脑沟增多,桥脑、延髓橄榄萎缩,第四脑室、脑干基底池扩大.(2)选取桥脑、小脑中脚和小脑半球为感兴趣区(ROI)并测量其ADC值.运用单因素方差对3组ROI的ADC值进行统计分析.结果 3组ROI的ADC值差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).OPCA患者组(轻度组及重度组)ROI的ADC值较对照组明显升高,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).OPCA重度组ROI的ADC值较轻度组升高,且重度组病程长于轻度组,差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 桥脑、小脑中脚、小脑半球的ADC值对OPCA有重要的诊断价值,尤其对于MRI表现不明显的OPCA轻度组患者具有重要的诊断意义.