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.     

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.     

Comparison of breast cancer detection by diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and mammography

PURPOSE: Breast cancer-detecting ability of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) was investigated by comparing the breast cancer detection rates of DW-MRI and mammography (MMG). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects were 48 women who had breast cancer (53 cancer lesions) who underwent DW-MRI before surgery. Altogether, 41 lesions were invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), 7 were noninvasive ductal carcinoma (NIDC) and 5 were "others." RESULTS: The breast cancer detection rates by MMG and DW-MRI were 84.9% and 94.3% (P < 0.001), respectively. In each classification of histology and size, the detection rate by DW-MRI was higher than that by MMG. In relation to the mammary gland density, the detection rates of fatty, scattered, heterogeneously dense, and extremely dense mammary glands were 100%, 100%, 92.0%, and 83.3%, respectively. The mean apparent diffusion coefficient values of the histologic types were 1.07 +/- 0.17 x 10(-3), 1.50 +/- 0.24 x 10(-3), 1.12 +/- 0.25 x 10(-3), and 2.01 +/- 0.29 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s for IDC, NIDC, others, and normal breast, respectively, showing that the values of IDC and NIDC were significantly different from that of the normal breast (P < 0.001 each). A significant difference was also noted between IDC and NIDC (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: DW-MRI may be useful for detecting breast cancer in a wide age group of women, including young women with dense mammary glands.     

体素内不相干运动联合扩散峰度成像模型对乳腺良恶性病灶的鉴别诊断价值

目的:探讨体素内不相干运动(IVIM)技术联合扩散峰度成像(DKI)对乳腺良恶性病变的鉴别诊断价值.方法:137例女性患者(共153个病灶)行双侧乳腺多b值DWI检查(b=0～2000 s/mm2);分别使用IVIM、DKI模型获得病灶的真性扩散系数(D)、灌注相关扩散系数(D*)、灌注分数(f)以及平均扩散峰度系数(MK)、平均扩散系数(MD)和ADC值.分析这些参数在乳腺良恶性病变中的变化规律,采用受试者工作特性曲线(ROC)评估各参数的诊断效能.结果:良恶性病灶的D、f、MK、ADC和MD值的中位数差异有统计学意义(P值分别为0.000、0.020、0.000、0.000和0.000),良恶性病灶D*值的差异无统计学意义(P=0.480).D值与和MK、ADC和MD值在鉴别乳腺良恶性病变中的可靠性相当,两两比较差异无统计学意义(P值均大于0.1).当MK值及D、ADC和MD值的阈值分别取0.8073及0.9536×10-3、1.1436×10-3和1.5657×10 3mm2/s时,鉴别良恶性病灶的敏感度和特异度依次分别为(95.7％,84.2％)及(95.7％,81.6％)、(96.5％,84.2％)和(93.9％,84.2％).ROC曲线分析得出D值的诊断效能最大(AUC=0.91).联合D值和MK值的AUC这0.92.结论:采用1VIM和DKI模型获得的相关参数有助于乳腺良恶性病灶的鉴别,以IVIM模型中的真性扩散系数的诊断敏感性和特异性较高,联合真性扩散系数和扩散峰度系数的诊断效能最高.     

ADC值和相对ADC鉴别乳腺良恶性病变的价值

目的 探讨ADC值和相对ADC(relative ADC,rADC)鉴别乳腺良恶性病变的价值.方法 回顾性分析2011年1月～2018年12月济宁医学院附属医院通过病理或活检证实的乳腺病变,其中良性病变组31例,恶性病变组41例,测量病变区ADC值及其周围正常腺体ADC值,并计算rADC(病变ADC值/周围正常腺体AD...     

DWI在鉴别诊断膀胱良恶性病变中的应用价值

目的：探讨磁共振（magnetic resonance ,MR）弥散加权成像（diffusion-weighted imaging ,DWI）中的表观扩散系数（apparent diffusion coefficient ,ADC）及相对表观扩散系数（r-ADC）值在膀胱良恶性病变鉴别诊断中的应用价值。方法共收集2012年10月～2013年5月75例超声诊断为膀胱占位患者,并最终经膀胱镜病理确诊。所有患者均行常规横断位T1 WI、T2 WI、DWI（b值为0和1500s/mm2）,横断位和冠状位增强LAVA序列。测量病灶及病灶对侧膀胱壁的ADC值及r-ADC值进行统计学分析。结果所有恶性膀胱肿瘤病灶及4例良性病灶在DWI图像上病灶显示为明显高信号。恶性膀胱肿瘤病灶平均ADC值（0．85±0．30）×10-3 mm2/s明显低于良性病灶的 ADC值（1．62±0．86）×10-3 mm2/s）（ P ＜0．05）。恶性肿瘤性病灶的r-ADC值（0．74±0．27）也明显低于良性肿瘤性病灶（1．20±0．73）（ P ＜0．01）。结论结论DWI在鉴别膀胱良恶性肿瘤中有较高的应用价值,是一种较可靠的检查方法。     

MR扩散成像对宫颈癌放化疗早期疗效的评价

目的：探讨MR扩散成像评价晚期宫颈癌放化疗早期疗效的价值。方法：对18例经病理证实为晚期宫颈癌并接受放化疗的患者,在治疗前和开始治疗后2周、及治疗结束后行常规MRI及DWI检查。测量治疗前和治疗后不同时间点肿瘤最大径和ADC值,按治疗后肿瘤直径的变化进行分组,分析各组治疗前和治疗后不同时间点ADC值差异。结果：治疗后2周ADC值升高,完全缓解（CR）组ADC值变化高于部分缓解（PR）组,差异具有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论：MR扩散成像可以作为晚期宫颈癌放化疗早期评价的指标,并可根据ADC值升高情况预测治疗效果。     

Sandwich sign of Borrmann type 4 gastric cancer on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging

Objective

To assess the appearance of Borrmann type 4 (BT-4) gastric cancer on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) and to investigate the potential of qualitative and quantitative DW images analysis to differentiate BT-4 gastric cancer from poorly distended normal stomach wall.

Materials and methods

DWI was performed on 23 patients with BT-4 gastric cancer and 23 healthy volunteers. The signal characteristics and correlated histopathological basis of the cancers on DWI were investigated. The contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR) of cancer were compared between DWI and T1WI/T2WI_. The thickness and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of cancer and normal stomach wall were compared.

Results

All of the gastric cancers displayed hyperintensity compared to the nearby normal gastric wall on DWI. A three-layer sandwich sign that demonstrated high signal intensity in the inner and outer layer, and low signal intensity in the intermediate layer was observed in 69.6% of cancers on DWI. The low signal intensity represents the muscularis propria through the comparison with pathology, and it is postulated that scattering distribution of the cancer cells in this layer causes less damage and subsequently less restriction of water movement, which causes the low signal intensity on DWI. The CNR obtained with DWI was higher than that with T1WI and T2WI (P < 0.001). The mean ADC value of BT-4 gastric cancer was significantly lower than the poorly distended normal stomach wall (1.12 ± 0.23 × 10⁻³ mm²/s vs. 1.93 ± 0.22 × 10⁻³ mm²/s, P < 0.01).

Conclusion

DWI can highlight the signals of BT-4 gastric cancer which may present a characteristic three-layer sandwich sign, and ADC values are helpful in the discrimination of gastric cancer from poorly distended stomach wall.     

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...     

Diagnostic value of apparent diffusion coefficients to differentiate benign from malignant vertebral bone marrow lesions

Aim

The aim of this study is to evaluate the value of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) obtained in diffusion-weighted (DW) MR sequences for the differentiation between malignant and benign bone marrow lesions.

Method

Forty-five patients with altered signal intensity vertebral bodies on conventional MR sequences were included. The cause of altered signal intensity was benign osteoporotic collapse in 16, acute neoplastic infiltration in 15, and infectious processes in 14; based on plain-film, CT, bone scintigraphy, conventional MR studies, biopsy or follow-up. All patients underwent isotropic DW MR images (multi-shot EPI, b values of 0 and 500 s/mm²). Signal intensity at DW MR images was evaluated and ADC values were calculated and compared between malignancy, benign edema and infectious spondylitis.

Results

Acute malignant fractures were hyperintense compared to normal vertebral bodies on the diffusion-weighted sequence, except in one patient with sclerotic metastases. Mean ADC value from benign edema (1.9 ± 0.39 × 10⁻³ mm²/s) was significantly (p < 0.0001) higher than untreated metastasic lesions (0.9 ± 1.3 × 10⁻³ mm²/s). Mean ADC value of infectious spondilytis (0.96 ± 0.49 × 10⁻³ mm²/s) was not statistically (p > 0.05) different from untreated metastasic lesions. ADC value was low (0.75 × 10⁻³ mm²/s) in one case of subacute benign fracture.

Conclusions

ADC values are a useful complementary tool to characterize bone marrow lesions, in order to distinguish acute benign fractures from malignant or infectious bone lesions. However, ADC values are not valuable in order to differentiate malignancy from infection.     

磁共振扩散加权成像在乳腺良恶性病变中的诊断价值

目的探讨磁共振扩散加权成像在乳腺良恶性病变中的诊断价值。方法收集我院2010年2—8月经手术病理证实或穿刺活检证实的50例乳腺癌患者和50例乳腺良性病变患者。DWI扫描b值分别为400、600、8001、000 s/mm2,测量病灶区域的ADC值,并比较各组之间的差异。结果 b值分别为400、6008、001、000时乳腺癌及良性病变的ADC值,恶性组ADC值明显低于良性组(P<0.05)。四组不同b值的良恶性病变分别做ROC曲线,以b=1 000 s/mm2时,AUC最大,诊断价值最高,以ADC值为1.23×10-3mm2/s作为良恶性病变的诊断阈值,敏感性为90.0%,特异性为89.8%,准确性为89.9%。结论 DWI结合ADC值测量,对乳腺良恶性病变的鉴别诊断具有较高的临床应用价值。     

正常与退变腰椎间盘磁共振弥散加权成像的对比研究及其临床意义

目的：探讨磁共振弥散加权成像（DWI）及表观弥散系数测量值（ADC值）在腰椎间盘退变中的临床应用价值并对可能影响ADC值的相关因素进行分析。方法：对24例健康志愿者和16例腰腿痛患者进行常规T2WI及DWI扫描检查,进行相关研究。结果：正常腰椎间盘ADC值与年龄、性别、体重指数均无相关性。正常与退变椎间盘平均ADC值分别为（1.82±0.70）×10^-3mm^2/s和（1.22±0.27）×10^-3mm^2/s,正常与退变之间差异具有统计学意义。结论：弥散加权成像ADC测量值对退变椎间盘的诊断有一定的临床价值,利用磁共振弥散加权成像ADC值诊断退变椎间盘时可不考虑年龄、性别和体重指数的影响。     

Diagnostic accuracy of diffusion-weighted imaging in differentiating benign from malignant ovarian lesions

Purpose

To clarify the diagnostic accuracy of diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) in differentiating benign from malignant ovarian lesions.

Materials and Methods

We retrospectively analyzed magnetic resonance images of 123 ovarian lesions in 119 patients. We defined lesions with abnormal signal intensity as malignancy and assessed the location of abnormal intensity within the lesions on DWI. We also assessed the mean and lowest apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of the solid portion for each ovarian lesion.

Results

The majority of malignant ovarian tumors and mature cystic teratomas, and almost half of the endometriomas, showed abnormal signal intensity on DWI, whereas most fibromas and other benign lesions did not. The main locations of abnormal signal intensity were solid portions in malignant ovarian tumors, cystic components suggestive of keratinoid substances and Rokitansky protuberance in mature cystic teratomas, and intracystic clots in endometriomas. On DW imaging, receiver‐operating characteristic analysis yielded mean Az values of 0.703. There was no significant difference in mean and lowest ADC values between malignant and benign lesions.

Conclusion

DWI of ovarian lesions and ADC values of the solid component are not useful for differentiating benign from malignant ovarian lesions. This knowledge is essential in avoiding misinterpretation in the diagnosis of ovarian lesions. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2008;28:1149–1156. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

表观扩散系数对乳腺肿块样和非肿块样强化病变的诊断价值

目的：探讨ADC值及相对ADC值（rADC）对乳腺肿块样和非肿块样强化病变的诊断价值。方法：回顾性分析术经手术病理证实的171例乳腺病变患者（共177个病灶）的术前 MRI和DWI（b＝0和800s／mm2）资料,测量并比较（t检验）乳腺肿块和非肿块样良、恶性病变的ADC值及rADC值,采用受试者工作特征曲线（ROC）分析ADC值及rADC值在乳腺良、恶性病变定性诊断中的效能。结果：177个乳腺病变中良性病变112个,恶性病变65个;按病变形态分组,肿块性病变144个,非肿块性病变33个。肿块性病变中恶性47个,平均 ADC 值及平均 rADC 值分别为（1．06±0．27）×10－3mm2／s和0．62±0．17;良性97个,平均ADC 值及 rADC 值分别为（1．58±0．26）×10－3mm2／s 和0．91±0．17;ROC分析显示,以ADC值和rADC值分别为1．23×10－3mm2／s和0．72作为阈值,鉴别肿块样乳腺良、恶性病变的敏感度和特异度分别为85．1％、92．8％和80．9％、89．7％。33个非肿块性病变中恶性18个,平均ADC值及rADC值分别为（1．25±0．40）×10－3mm2／s 和0．76±0．25;良性15个,平均 ADC 值和 rADC 值分别为（1．50±0．18）×10－3mm2／s 和0．89±0．12;ROC分析显示,以ADC和rADC值分别为1．36×10－3mm2／s、0．84作为阈值,鉴别非肿块样乳腺良、恶性病变的敏感度和特异度分别为77．8％、80．0％和77．8％、73．3％。结论：根据ADC和rADC值可以鉴别乳腺良、恶性病变,ADC值的诊断价值略高于rADC值,对乳腺肿块性和非肿块性病变应采用不同的ADC。     

Value of diffusion-weighted MR imaging in the differentiation between benign and malignant cervical lymph nodes

Purpose

To evaluate echo-planar diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI) in the differentiation between benign and malignant cervical lymph nodes.

Materials and methods

35 consecutive patients with 55 enlarged (>10 mm) cervical lymph nodes underwent MR imaging at 1.5-T. DWI was performed using a single-shot echo-planar (SSEPI) MR imaging sequence with b values (b: diffusion factor) of 0, 500 and 1000 s/mm². Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps were reconstructed for all patients and ADC values were calculated for each lymph node. Imaging results were correlated with histopathologic findings after neck dissection or surgical biopsy, findings in PET/CT or imaging follow-up. Mann-Whitney test was used for statistical analysis and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed.

Results

Cervical lymph node enlargement was secondary to metastases from squamous cell carcinomas [n = 25], non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma [n = 6], reactive lymphadenitis [n = 20], cat scratch lymphadenitis [n = 2] and sarcoidosis [n = 2]. The mean ADC values (×10⁻³ mm²/s) were 0.78 ± 0.09 for metastatic lymph nodes, 0.64 ± 0.09 for lymphomatous nodes and 1.24 ± 0.16 for benign cervical lymph nodes. ADC values of malignant lymph nodes were significantly lower than ADC values of benign lymph nodes. 94.3% of lesions were correctly classified as benign or malignant using a threshold ADC value of 1.02 × 10⁻³ mm²/s.

Conclusion

According to our first experience, DWI using a SSEPI sequence allows reliable differentiation between benign and malignant cervical lymph nodes.     

Meckel腔病变的常规MRI和扩散加权成像表现

目的：探讨各种Meckel腔病变的常规MRI和扩散加权成像（DWI）特点.方法：回顾性分析30例Meckel腔病变（31处病变）的MRI表现,且与临床资料、病理诊断及手术结果进行对照分析.结果：31处Meckel腔病变中以肿瘤（n=28）最常见.病变T1WI呈等信号（n=18）、不均匀信号（n=11）、稍低信号（n=1）或稍高信号（n=1）;T2WI呈稍高信号（n=8）、等信号（n=7）、高信号（n=6）及不均匀信号（n=10）;所有病变增强扫描均显著强化.30例病变DWI上呈高信号,且31例呈不同的ADC值,平均ADC值为（1.09±0.22）×10-3mm2/s,最小值为（0.59±0.11）×10-3mm2/s（小细胞型神经内分泌癌）,最大值为（2.09±0.41）×10-3mm2/s（软骨肉瘤）.结论：常规MRI与DWI和ADC值相结合,对诊断各种Meckel腔病变具有重要价值.     

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.

1.5T DWI在肺内良、恶性病变鉴别诊断中最适b值的探讨

目的:探讨1.5TDWI对肺内良、恶性病变的鉴别诊断价值及b值的优化。方法:搜集40例经病理/临床证实的肺内良、恶性病变患者(恶性病变23例,良性病变17例)的影像及临床资料,40例均经MSCT检查发现肺部病变,并行常规T1WI、T2WI以及多b值DWI(b=0,300,600,1000s/mm2)检查,测量3组b值测得的ADC值,分析不同b值对图像质量、信噪比(SNR)、对比噪声比(CNR)的影响,根据受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线评价不同b值下ADC值鉴别肺部良、恶性病变的诊断效能;并比较同一b值下良、恶性病变ADC值的差异。结果:随着b值的增加,DWI图像信号逐渐增高,ADC、SNR及CNR值逐渐下降;b值为300和600s/mm2两组图像SNR值差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),b值为300与1000s/mm2以及600与1000s/mm2两组SNR值差异均具有统计学意义(P均<0.05);CNR值在两两组间的差异均具有统计学意义(P均<0.05)。b值为300、600和1000s/mm2时,ROC的曲线下面积(AUC)分别为0.78、0.83和0.81,且均具有诊断意义(AUC均>0.5),当b=600s/mm2时,诊断效能最高。在同一b值下,恶性病变图像信号高于良性病变,且ADC值低于良性病变(P均<0.05)。结论:1.5T DWI多b值胸部扫描有助于鉴别肺内良、恶性病变,当b=600s/mm2时,对肺良、恶性病变的鉴别诊断效能最高。     

Diagnostic accuracy of apparent diffusion coefficient value in differentiating metastatic form benign axillary lymph nodes in cancer breast

Purpose

To detect axillary lymph node metastasis based on diffusion Weighted MR and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in the known breast cancer cases.

Patient and methods

Forty-four patients were included in this study for preoperative MRI staging of the breast cancer and axillary lymph node assessment. The lymph node criteria (long/short-axis ratio, T2WI, DWI and ADC value) were included in the analysis. Images were obtained with diffusion sensitizing gradients of 0 and 750 mm²/s. The ADC was calculated.

Results

Thirty-two patients had metastatic axillary lymph nodes and 12 cases had no malignant LN involvement. There was no significant difference between both in S/L ratio, T2WISI (p < 0.140 & p = 0.079, respectively), while statistically significant difference between benign and malignant lymph nodes in both DWI and ADC mean values (p < 0.0001 & p < 0.007, respectively). The optimal ADC cut off value was ?.8 × 10⁻³ mm²/s for differentiation between benign and malignant lymph nodes with accuracy 96.7%, sensitivity 100%, specificity 87%, PPV 95.4% and NPV 100%.

Conclusion

Compared with lymph node size or routine magnetic resonance sequences, DWI and ADC are promising techniques for differentiating metastatic and non metastatic axillary lymph nodes in known breast cancer patients.     

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.