Value of whole body diffusion weighted imaging in diagnostic and therapeutic evaluation of malignant lymphoma

Abstract

The aim was to evaluate the role of whole body diffusion weighted imaging (WB-DWI) of magnetic resonance in the diagnosis and efficacy evaluation of malignant lymphoma. The clinical manifestation of whole body diffusion weighted imaging of 47 patients with malignant lymphoma being pathologically proved were carried on by retrospective analysis and to compare with 10 healthy volunteers. There were 8 cases of Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HD) patients, of which WB-DWI examination of 5 cases were carried out before and after treatment and 3 cases were done after treatment. There were 39 cases of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) patients, of which WB-DWI examination in 19 cases were acted before treatment, 11 cases were done before and after treatment and 9 cases done after treatment. In apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) diagram the ADC values of lymph nodes in patients with malignant lymphoma and healthy volunteers were measured respectively, among 16 patients the ADC values of parts of lymph node being consistent with the initial inspection were determined again and compared the values before and after, and compared with healthy volunteers. Whole body magnetic resonance diffusion weighted imaging (MR-DWI) showed more sensitive to lymphoma, and 372 lymph nodes greater than 1 cm were detected with MR-DWI. Before treatment, mean ADC value of 35 patients with malignant lymphoma was (0.86 ± 0.21) × 10−3 mm2/s, of which an average ADC values of 28 cases after treatment was (1.22 ± 0.31) × 10−3 mm2/s, before and after treatment difference of the average ADC values of patients was statistically significant (P 0.05). WB-DWI and ADC values being measured in the clinical diagnosis of malignant lymphoma, staging and evaluation of efficacy of monitoring is a fast and effective technology, with some clinical value.