Hepatic Tumors: Diagnosis and Therapeutic Effect Evaluation of Diffusion- Weighted Imaging

Abstract

Background: As a non-invasive MR technique, Diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) can provide functional information by measuring Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) value. It is sensitive to the small changes of water molecules diffusion in the MR scanning and the ADC value reflexes the water molecules diffusion in the local tissue. Discussion: In recent years, DWI is widely used in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of hepatic tumors (including monoexponential and biexponential model DWI), especially for benign and malignant hepatic tumors diagnosis and differential diagnosis. In addition, the research of ADC value before and after treatment in hepatic tumors can be applied to predict the efficacy and prognosis. In clinical, not only conventional MRI, MR spectroscopy or dynamic enhancement, but also DWI was needed to acquire for receiving reliable results. However, during the malignant and benign hepatic neoplasm, the mean ADC value was overlapped and it make the diagnosis value of DWI limited. Also, relatively low spatial resolution and difficulty in detecting small lesions are the shortages of DWI. Therefore, the conventional MRI sequences, dynamic contrast enhancement and DWI combined for the assessment of hepatic tumors diagnosis and treatment will be more valuable. Conclusion: The focus of this review is to apply the value of DWI in the diagnosis and treatment of hepatic tumors assessment. Keywords: Hepatic tumor, MR, DWI, monoexponential model, biexponential model, lesions.