Application of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant lung lesions

Abstract

Objective To investigate the application value of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant lung lesions. Methods 32 patients with lung lesions (19 cases of malignant lesions and 13 cases of benign lesions) proven by pathological results underwent DCE-MRI.The quantitative MRI pharmaeokinetic parameters including Ktrans, Kep, Ve and Vp were measured.These parameters of the two groups were statistically compared using Student′s t test.Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to compare the diagnostic capability of DCE-MRI. Results Ktrans, Kep, Ve and Vp of malignant lesions were (0.632±0.418) min-1, (1.324±0.514) min-1, 0.431±0.207 and 0.193±0.103, Ktrans, Kep, Ve and Vp of benign lesions were (0.107±0.091) min-1, (0.667±0.259) min-1, 0.357±0.125 and 0.096±0.042, respectively.There were significant differences between malignant lesions and benign lesions in Ktrans and Kep (t=4.112, 3.625, respectively, all P 0.05). The areas under the ROC curve of Ktrans and Kep in malignant lesions and benign lesions were 0.882, 0.846 respectively, the sensitivity were 92.3%, 91.7% and specificity were 87.5%, 75.0% for the differential diagnosis of pulmonary lesions. Conclusions DCE-MRI can quantitatively evaluate the microvascular permeability, the quantitative parameters Ktrans, Kep are capable of the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant lung lesions, which has an important value in clinical work. Key words: Lung neoplasms; Magnetic resonance imaging; Dynamic contrast-enhanced