Efficiency of combined diffusion weighted imaging and conventional MRI in detection of clinically nonpalpable undescended testes

Purpose

The goal of the study was to highlight the added value of combined DWI and conventional MRI in detecting clinically nonpalpable undescended testes.

Patients and methods

Prospective study included 60 males referred for MRI evaluation of clinically diagnosed 66 nonpalpable undescended testes. MRI studies were performed using 1.5-T MRI machine and included axial and coronal spin-echo T1WIs, axial T2WIs, axial and coronal fat suppressed spin-echo T2WIs, and axial DWIs using three sets of b value (50, 400, and 800 s/mm²). All images were transferred to an independent workstation and evaluated by two radiologists for the presence or absence and location of the undescended testes. The findings were compared to laparoscopy results, and then, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were calculated for both conventional and combined (DWI and conventional) MRI.

Results

According to laparoscopic findings, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of conventional MRI were 73.91%, 100%, and 80% and 69.57%, 100%, and 76.67% for radiologists 1 and 2 respectively, and of combined MRI were 86.9%, 100%, and 90% and 82.61%, 100%, and 86.67% for radiologists 1 and 2 respectively.

Conclusion

Adding DWIs to conventional MRI improves the sensitivity and accuracy of detecting clinically nonpalpable undescended testes.