Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the value of two quantitative indicators, the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and the exponent apparent diffusion coefficient (EADC), of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the differential diagnosis of ovarian epithelial tumors.
Materials and methods: Clinical and MRI data from ovarian epithelial tumors were analyzed after pathology confirmation of 85 lesions from 76 cases (47 lesions from 41 benign cases; 38 lesions from 35 malignant cases). Patients underwent routine MRI examination and DWI before surgery. The average ADC and EADC values of the solid sections of the tumors were measured when the b value was 1000 s/mm 2.
Results: The mean ADC value of the solid sections in the benign group was 1.28 ± 0.23 × 10-3 mm 2/s; the average EADC value was 27.96 ± 5.78 × 10-2. In the malignant group, the mean ADC value of the solid sections was 0.86 ± 0.17 × 10-3 mm 2/s; the average EADC value was 42.37 ± 5.96 × 10-2. When the b value was 1000 s/mm 2, there was a statistically significant difference in ADC and EADC values between benign and malignant ovarian tumors (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: ADC and EADC values of DWI can be used to differentiate benign and malignant ovarian epithelial tumors.