Characterizing focal hepatic lesions by free-breathing intravoxel incoherent motion MRI at 3.0 T. (December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Watanabe, Haruo; Kanematsu, Masayuki; Goshima, Satoshi; Kajita, Kimihiro; Kawada, Hiroshi; Noda, Yoshifumi; Tatahashi, Yukichi; Kawai, Nobuyuki; Kondo, Hiroshi; Moriyama, Noriyuki
• Is Part Of: Acta radiologica. Volume 55:Number 10(2014:Dec.)
• Page Start: 1166
• Page End: 1173
• Publication Date: 2014-12
• Subjects: Hepatic nodule -- Intravoxel incoherent motion -- diffusion; Radiology, Medical -- Periodicals; Radiography, Medical -- Periodicals; Radiotherapy -- Periodicals; 616.0757
• DOI: 10.1177/0284185113514966
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0284-1851

Abstract

Background: Diffusion-weighted (DW) imaging is commonly used to distinguish between benign and malignant liver lesions. Purpose: To prospectively evaluate the true molecular-diffusion coefficient ( D ), perfusion-related diffusion coefficient ( D *), perfusion fraction ( f ), and ADC of focal hepatic lesions using a free-breathing intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) DW sequence, and to determine if these parameters are useful for characterizing focal hepatic lesions. Material and Methods: One hundred and twenty hepatic lesions (34 metastases, 32 hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC], 33 hemangiomas, and 21 liver cysts) in 74 patients were examined. Mean D, D *, f, and ADC values of hepatic lesions were compared among pathologies. ROC curve analyses were performed to assess the performances of D, D *, f, and ADC values for the characterization of liver lesions as benign or malignant. Results: The mean D and ADC values of benign lesions were greater than those of malignant lesions ( P < 0.001). Although the mean D and ADC values of liver cysts were greater than those of hemangiomas ( P < 0.001), and these values were not significantly different between metastases and HCCs ( P = 0.99). Area under the ROC curve for ADC values (0.98) was significantly greater ( P = 0.048) than that for D values (0.96) for the differentiation of benign and malignant lesions. Sensitivity and specificity for the detection of malignant lesion were 89% and 98%, respectively, when an ADC cut-off value of 1.40 was applied. Conclusion: D and ADC values have more potential for characterizing focal hepatic lesions than D * or f values, and for the differentiation of malignancy and benignity.