Role of MRI Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) Quantification in the differentiation between benign and malignant pulmonary lesions

Abstract

Background: Computed tomography (CT) cannot differentiate benign from malignant pulmonary lesion. Diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) can evaluate lung cancer using ADC which is inveresly correlated to tissue cellularity. Objective: To evaluate the role of measurement of ADC in the differentiation between benign and malignant pulmonary lesions. Patients&Methods: 42 patients with pulmonary masses were included in this study. They underwent diffusion weighted MRI. ADC value measurement and histopathological diagnosis were done for each lesion. Results: The mean age for the studied patients was 57.85± 10.6 years with male predominance (34 patients). On histopathological bases they were subdivided into benign (12 patients) and malignant (30patients). The mean ADCx10−3 for the malignant lesions (0.92±0.15) was significantly(p In malignant tumors, ADC value for small cell lung cancer was significantly (p Conclusion: Diffusion weighted MRI with measurement of ADC value is very helpful in the differentiation between malignant and benign pulmonary lesions