Application of diffusion-weighted imaging for the differential diagnosis of soft-tissue tumors

Abstract

Objective To explore the potential value of diffusion weighted imaging(DWI) in the clinical diagnosis of soft-tissue tumors.Methods Diffusion-weighted MRI was performed in 48 histologically proven soft-tissue tumor cases using diffusion-weighted spin-echo sequences.Of the 48 soft-tissue tumor cases,there were 28 cases of sarcoma and 20 cases of benign tumor.The apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC) values of a large region with no necrosis,scar tissue,hemorrhage or calcification representing the lesion were measured.ADC values of benign tumors,malignant tumors and normal muscles were compared.Results The ADC value of the malignant tumors (0.95 ± 0.31 )× 10-3mm2/s was significantly lower than that of benign lesions( 1.87 ±0.66) × 10-3mm2/s and muscles( 1.62 ±0.50) × 10 -3mm2/s.There was no significant difference in ADC value between benign lesions and muscles.Sensitivity(75％ ) and specificity(89％ ) were obtained when the ADC value was 1.38 × 10-3mm2/s in the differentiation of benign and malignant tumors.Conclusion Diffusion-weighted MRI had potential value in differentiating benign softtissue tumors from malignant ones. Key words: Magnetic resonance imaging diffusion; Soft tissue neoplasms