Role of diffusion weighted MRI in differentiation between benign and malignant hepatic focal lesions

Abstract

Abstract Background Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is playing an increasing role in the assessment of patients with liver disease due to its high soft tissue resolution, lack of ionizing radiation and ability to provide functional data. Diffusion-weighted (DW)-MRI is a functional imaging technique that is now widely used as a standard imaging sequence, together with unenhanced T1/T2 weighted imaging and contrast-enhanced imaging for liver evaluation. Objective The aim of this study is to clarify the role of Diffusion Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DW MRI) in the detection of hepatic focal lesions and its ability to differentiate benign from malignant hepatic focal lesions. Patients and Methods This study carried out in Radiology Department of Ain Shams University Hospitals. This study included 25 patients. All patients were subjected to careful history taking, abdominal US, laboratory examinations, and liver MRI. Result The difference between the mean ADC values of benign and malignant lesions was significant. No significant differences in ADC values among the different benign lesions or among the different malignant lesions. Conclusion Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) offers the possibility to obtain criteria for characterization of focal liver lesions with subsequent differentiation between benign and malignant hepatic focal lesions without the need for contrast agent administration-by quantifying diffusion effects via apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements.