BACKGROUND: Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) as a new technique of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to detect focal hepatic lesions. This study was designed to evaluate the significance of DWI to differentiate focal hepatic lesions less than 3 cm in diameter by the quantitation of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values.
METHODS: DWI using 1.5T MRI scanner unit was performed with a spin-echo single-shot echo planar imaging (EPI) in 56 cases of small focal hepatic lesions, including hepatocellular carcinoma (11), hepatic metastatic tumor (15), hepatic cavernous hemangioma (14), and hepatic cyst (16). The ADC values of these lesions were calculated respectively. The ratios of the ADC values of lesion/liver in hepatocellular carcinomas and hepatic metastatic tumors were also estimated.
RESULTS: The mean ADC values (mm2/s) were (0.93±0.06)×10-3 in hepatocellular carcinomas, (1.09±0.18)×10-3 in hepatic metastatic tumors, (1.95±0.38)×10-3 in hepatic cavernous hemangiomas, and (3.18±0.33)×10-3 in hepatic cysts. The ratios of ADC values of lesion/liver were 0.90±0.06 and 1.15±0.14 in hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatic metastatic tumors respectively, which were significantly different (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION: The measurement of ADC values and the ratios of ADC values of lesion/liver are helpful in MR diagnosis and differentiation of focal hepatic lesions.