The role of apparent diffusion coefficient in the differentiation between benign and malignant bone tumors

Abstract

Objective To explore the role of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the differentiation between benign and malignant bone tumors. Methods Echo planar imaging DWI was performed in 18 patients with benign tumor or tumorous lesion and 26 patients with malignant tumor of bone. Three b-values (0, 500 and 1000 s/mm2) were applied. The lowest, highest, and whole ADC values were measured for each lesion, respectively. Results The lowest ADC values of benign bone tumor[ mean( 1.28±0. 49) ×10-3mm2/s ] were significantly higher than that of malignant tumor [ mean ( 0. 92±0. 35 )×10-3mm2/s, t = 2. 839, P 0. 05 ]. Excluding cases of bone cyst and aneurismal bone cyst, the lowest, highest, and whole ADC values of benign bone tumor was (1.11± 0. 31 )×10-3mm2/s, ( 1.88±0. 49)×10-3mm2/s, and( 1.45±0. 35 )×10-3mm2/s, respectively. There was no significant difference for the lowest, highest, or whole ADC values between benign and malignant bone tumor (t = 1. 728, 0. 964, and 2. 012, respectively, P > 0. 05). Conclusion ADC value is useless for the differentiation between benign and malignant bone tumors. Key words: Bone neoplasm; Diffusion-weighted imaging; Magnetic resonance imaging