3-T Magnetic Resonance Diffusion-Weighted Imaging (DWI) for Characterization of Hepatic Masses

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the role of DWI and ADC in differentiating benign from malignant hepaticmasses Materials and methods: Forty-one patients with fifty-two focal hepatic masses were included in our study. MRI was done using coronal T2-weighted single-shot turbo spin-echo, breath hold axial 3-D gradient-echo, breath hold 2- D gradient-echo in and out-of-phase, respiratory-triggered axial turbo spin-echo T2 sequence with fat saturation, followed by free breathing Diffusion-weighted MR imaging using a single-shot spin-echo echo planar imaging sequence and finally triphasic -MRI. Results: Forty-one patients (Fifty-two lesions) were included in our study. Twenty-three lesions were benign; eight of them were cysts (mean ADC values of 3.15 ± 0.34 × 10-3 mm2/s) and fifteen lesions were hemangiomas (mean ADC values of 2.10 ± 0.25 × 10-3 mm2/s). Twenty-nine lesions were malignant; twelve HCC lesions (mean ADC values of 1.10 ± 0.32 × 10-3 mm2/s) and seventeen masses were metastasis (mean ADC values of 0.96 ± 0.23 × 10-3 mm2/s). Sensitivity and specificity of DWI in differentiating malignant from benign hepatic masses were 96.6% and 95.7% respectively. Conclusion: DWI is an easy technique to obtain and to be evaluated. ADC values can differentiate benign from malignant liver masses with high sensitivity and specificity.