Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the potential of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) diffusion-weighted MR imaging in assessing solitary pulmonary lesions (SPLs). Sixty-two patients with pathologically confirmed SPLs, including 51 and 11 cases of malignant and benign lesions, respectively, were assessed. Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) with 13 b values was used to derive apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and IVIM parameters, including true diffusion coefficient (D), pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D*), and perfusion fraction (f). Our results showed that, there was an excellent inter-observer agreement on the measurements of D and ADC between observers (inter-class correlation coefficient, ICC = 0.902 and 0.884, respectively). Meanwhile, f and D* showed good and substantial reproducibility (ICC = 0.787 and 0.623, respectively). D and ADC of malignant lesions were significantly lower than those of benign lesions (both P ≤ 0.001), while similar values were obtained in both groups for D* and f (both P > 0.05). In receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, D showed the highest area under curve (AUC) for distinguishing malignant from benign lesions, followed by ADC. Accompanying signs of SPLs have specific features on IVIM maps. In conclusion, IVIM provides functional information in characterizing SPLs which is helpful to differential diagnosis. D and ADC have a significantly higher diagnostic value than f and D*.
Highlights
Perfusion in the capillary network, which has the potential to better assess SPLs
IVIM is a technique with the potential of simultaneously assessing both tissue perfusion and diffusion by using a single sequence
The number of b value used in IVIM does not form a unified standard, varying from 4 to more than 10 according to the literature
Summary
Perfusion in the capillary network, which has the potential to better assess SPLs. IVIM-derived parameters include the true diffusion coefficient (D) and perfusion-related coefficient (pseudo-diffusion coefficient [D*] and perfusion fraction [f]). IVIM-derived parameters have rarely been interpreted in detail in lung, including their reproducibility and influential factors. The appearance of accompanying signs of SPLs on IVIM maps, such as pleural retraction and pleural effusion, has not yet been reported. Such information is important in facilitating the IVIM application in lung and helps to understand the mechanism and value of IVIM parameters. Accompanying signs of SPLs on IVIM maps, such as pleural retraction and pleural effusion, have been investigated
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.