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Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Nov 7, 2005; 11(41): 6535-6537
Published online Nov 7, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i41.6535
Quantitative evaluation of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of focal hepatic lesions
Xi-Jie Sun, Xian-Yue Quan, Fan-Heng Huang, Yi-Kai Xu
Xi-Jie Sun, Xian-Yue Quan, Fan-Heng Huang, Imaging Center, Affiliated Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, Guangdong Province, China
Yi-Kai Xu, Imaging Center, Affiliated Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, China, No. 32830 and 101595
Correspondence to: Dr. Xian-Yue Quan, Imaging Center, Affiliated Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, Guangdong Province, China. qxy1318@sina.com
Telephone: +86-20-61643460 Fax: +86-20-61643460
Received: January 12, 2005
Revised: January 23, 2005
Accepted: January 26, 2005
Published online: November 7, 2005
Abstract

AIM: To explore the quantitative analysis of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWMRI) in differential diagnosis of focal hepatic lesions.

METHODS: DWMRI was performed in 149 hepatic lesions, including hepatocellular carcinoma (34 cases), hepatic metastases (37 cases), cavernous hemangioma (42 cases), hepatic cyst (36 cases). Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were evaluated using four different b values in different sequences. The ratio of ADC values of lesion/liver in hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatic metastases was also calculated.

RESULTS: The mean ADC values of hepatic lesions were as follows: hepatocellular carcinoma (0.95 ± 0.11)×10-3 mm2/s, hepatic metastasis (1.13 ± 0.21)×10-3 mm2/s, cavernous hemangioma (1.86 ± 0.36)×10-3 mm2/s, hepatic cyst (3.14 ± 0.31)×10-3 mm2/s. The ratio of ADC values in lesion/liver in hepatocellular carcinoma was 0.91± 0.11, being significantly different from that in hepatic metastasis (1.21 ± 0.18, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: ADC values and quantitative analysis of focal hepatic lesions are of significant values in differential diagnosis of focal hepatic lesions.

Keywords: Diffusion-weighed magnetic resonance imaging; Hepatic lesion; Quantitative analysis