Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of focal hepatic nodules in an experimental hepatocellular carcinoma rat model

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: We sought to investigate the value of diffusion-weighted MR imaging in evaluating focal hepatic nodules in an experimental hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty rats with chemically induced primary hepatic nodules ranging pathologically from regenerative nodules (RNs) to dysplastic nodules (DNs) to HCC were examined with diffusion-weighted imaging. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of hepatic nodular lesions were calculated. Tukey's HSD post hoc test was used to compare the difference in ADC values between different hepatic nodular lesions. RESULTS: Eight RNs, 16 DNs, 7 well-differentiated HCCs (HCCwell), 11 moderately differentiated HCCs (HCCmod), and 14 poorly differentiated HCCs (HCCpoor) were evaluated. There was no significant difference between RNs and DNs (P > 0.05). Although the ADC values of HCCwell were slightly lower than those of DNs, there was no significant difference between them (P > 0.05). The ADC values of HCCmod and HCCpoor were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those of other nodules, and no significant difference was seen between HCCmod and HCCpoor (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging can be useful in characterizing focal hepatic nodular lesions, but ADC values cannot be used efficiently to distinguish HCCwell from DNs.