<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><bold>Background.</bold> The purpose of the study was to evaluate the value of diffusion-weighted imaging in the differential diagnosis of haemangiomas from metastases of the liver.<bold>Patients and methods.</bold> We analyzed 69 lesions in 38 patients (33 haemangiomas; 36 metastases) in the retrospective study. Diffusion-weighted imaging was performed using a breath-hold single-shot echo-planar spin echo sequence with three b factors (0, 500 and 1000 sec/mm2), and apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) were calculated. For the quantitative evaluation, signal intensity of the lesions, lesion-to-liver signal intensity ratios, ADC of the lesions, and lesion-to-liver ADC ratios were compared between the groups. The statistical significance was determined by student's-t test.<bold>Results.</bold> With the b factor 500 sec/mm2, no statistical significance was achieved (p>0.05). With the b factor of 1000 sec/mm2, both the signal intensity and lesion-to-liver signal intensity ratio of the metastases were significantly higher than those for haemangiomas (p&lt;0.001). The cut-off value at 2.6 yielded a sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 82% for the lesion-to-liver signal intensity ratio. The ADC, and lesion-to-liver ADC ratio of the metastases were significantly lower than those of haemangiomas (p&lt;0.001). With cut-off value of 1.7, ADC ratio had a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 72% for ADC lesion/liver.<bold>Conclusions.</bold> Diffusion-weighted imaging with high b value may help in the differential diagnosis of metastases from haemangiomas of the liver.</abstract>

Background. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the value of diffusion-weighted imaging in the differential diagnosis of haemangiomas from metastases of the liver.Patients and methods. We analyzed 69 lesions in 38 patients (33 haemangiomas; 36 metastases) in the retrospective study. Diffusion-weighted imaging was performed using a breath-hold single-shot echo-planar spin echo sequence with three b factors (0, 500 and 1000 sec/mm2), and apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) were calculated. For the quantitative evaluation, signal intensity of the lesions, lesion-to-liver signal intensity ratios, ADC of the lesions, and lesion-to-liver ADC ratios were compared between the groups. The statistical significance was determined by student's-t test.Results. With the b factor 500 sec/mm2, no statistical significance was achieved (p>0.05). With the b factor of 1000 sec/mm2, both the signal intensity and lesion-to-liver signal intensity ratio of the metastases were significantly higher than those for haemangiomas (p<0.001). The cut-off value at 2.6 yielded a sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 82% for the lesion-to-liver signal intensity ratio. The ADC, and lesion-to-liver ADC ratio of the metastases were significantly lower than those of haemangiomas (p<0.001). With cut-off value of 1.7, ADC ratio had a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 72% for ADC lesion/liver.Conclusions. Diffusion-weighted imaging with high b value may help in the differential diagnosis of metastases from haemangiomas of the liver.

Diffusion weighted MR imaging in the differential diagnosis of haemangiomas and metastases of the liver

Department of Radiology, University of Kocaeli, Kocaeli, Turkey

Radiology and Oncology

Background. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the value of diffusion-weighted imaging in the differential diagnosis of haemangiomas from metastases of...

Diffusion weighted MR imaging in the differential diagnosis of haemangiomas and metastases of the liver

Published Online: Mar 18, 2010

Page range: 24 - 29

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10019-010-0001-4

Keywords
liver, haemangioma, metastasis, magnetic resonance imaging, diffusion-weighted imaging, apparent diffusion coefficient

This content is open access.

Diffusion weighted MR imaging in the differential diagnosis of haemangiomas and metastases of the liver

Published Online: Mar 18, 2010

Page range: 24 - 29

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10019-010-0001-4

Keywordsliver, haemangioma, metastasis, magnetic resonance imaging, diffusion-weighted imaging, apparent diffusion coefficient

This content is open access.

Keywords
liver, haemangioma, metastasis, magnetic resonance imaging, diffusion-weighted imaging, apparent diffusion coefficient