Pre-treatment apparent diffusion coefficient mapping: differentiation of benign from malignant laryngeal lesions

Abstract

To determine whether a threshold apparent diffusion coefficient value may help to differentiate laryngeal carcinomas from benign lesions. Fifty-three patients with laryngeal masses were recruited; four of them were excluded because of susceptibility artefacts. In the remaining 49 patients, the pathological results showed 32 laryngeal carcinomas and 17 benign lesions. The diagnostic value of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging for the identification of malignant lesions was determined. In addition, the agreement between diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and histopathology was assessed. Moreover, the sensitivity, specificity, and negative and positive predictive values of the apparent diffusion coefficient in detecting benign and malignant lesions were analysed. An apparent diffusion coefficient histogram was also produced. An apparent diffusion coefficient value of 1.1 × 10-3 mm2/second produced the best result when used as the cut-off point to differentiate malignant from benign masses. An apparent diffusion coefficient threshold of 1.1 × 10-3 mm2/second is optimal for distinguishing laryngeal carcinomas from benign lesions. Apparent diffusion coefficient values were lower for patients with laryngeal carcinomas than for those with benign lesions.