<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><bold>Background.</bold> The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in the differential diagnosis of lung lesions.<bold>Patients and methods.</bold> Sixty-seven patients with lung lesions (48 malignant, 19 benign) were included in this prospective study. Signal intensities (SIs) were measured in diffusion-weighted MR images that were obtained with b=0, 500 and 1000 s/mm2 values. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps were calculated by using images with b=0 and 1000 s/mm2 values. The statistical significance was determined using the Student-t test.<bold>Results.</bold> The SIs of malignant lesions were significantly higher than those of benign lesions (p&lt;0.004 for b=0 s/mm2 and p&lt;0.000 for the other b values). Using b=500 s/mm2, SI≥391 indicated a malignant lesion with a sensitivity of 95%, specificity of 73% and positive predictive value of 87%. Using b=1000 s/mm2, SI≥277 indicated a malignant lesion with a sensitivity of 93%, specificity of 69% and positive predictive value of 85%. There was no significant difference between malignant and benign lesions regarding ADC values (p=0.675). There was no significant difference in SIs or ADC values between small cell carcinoma and non-small cell carcinoma. When comparing undifferentiated with well- partially differentiated cancers, SIs were higher with all b values, but the difference was statistically significant only with b=1000 s/mm2 (p&lt;0.04).<bold>Conclusions.</bold> Diffusion-weighteted MR trace image SI is useful for the differentiation of malignant versus benign lung lesions.</abstract>

Background. The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in the differential diagnosis of lung lesions.Patients and methods. Sixty-seven patients with lung lesions (48 malignant, 19 benign) were included in this prospective study. Signal intensities (SIs) were measured in diffusion-weighted MR images that were obtained with b=0, 500 and 1000 s/mm2 values. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps were calculated by using images with b=0 and 1000 s/mm2 values. The statistical significance was determined using the Student-t test.Results. The SIs of malignant lesions were significantly higher than those of benign lesions (p<0.004 for b=0 s/mm2 and p<0.000 for the other b values). Using b=500 s/mm2, SI≥391 indicated a malignant lesion with a sensitivity of 95%, specificity of 73% and positive predictive value of 87%. Using b=1000 s/mm2, SI≥277 indicated a malignant lesion with a sensitivity of 93%, specificity of 69% and positive predictive value of 85%. There was no significant difference between malignant and benign lesions regarding ADC values (p=0.675). There was no significant difference in SIs or ADC values between small cell carcinoma and non-small cell carcinoma. When comparing undifferentiated with well- partially differentiated cancers, SIs were higher with all b values, but the difference was statistically significant only with b=1000 s/mm2 (p<0.04).Conclusions. Diffusion-weighteted MR trace image SI is useful for the differentiation of malignant versus benign lung lesions.

Differentiation of malignant and benign lung lesions with diffusion-weighted MR imaging

Department of Radiology, University of Kocaeli, Turkey

Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Kocaeli, Turkey

Radiology and Oncology

Background. The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in the differential diagnosis of lung...

Differentiation of malignant and benign lung lesions with diffusion-weighted MR imaging

Published Online: Apr 11, 2012

Page range: 106 - 113

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10019-012-0021-3

Keywords
pulmonary lesions, diffusion-weighted imaging, apparent diffusion coefficient, magnetic resonance imaging

This content is open access.

Differentiation of malignant and benign lung lesions with diffusion-weighted MR imaging

Published Online: Apr 11, 2012

Page range: 106 - 113

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10019-012-0021-3

Keywordspulmonary lesions, diffusion-weighted imaging, apparent diffusion coefficient, magnetic resonance imaging

This content is open access.

Keywords
pulmonary lesions, diffusion-weighted imaging, apparent diffusion coefficient, magnetic resonance imaging