Intravoxel incoherent motion MRI for the differentiation of benign, intermediate, and malignant solid soft-tissue tumors

J Magn Reson Imaging. 2017 Dec;46(6):1611-1618. doi: 10.1002/jmri.25733. Epub 2017 Apr 17.

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the diagnostic potential of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM)-derived parameters for the differentiation of benign, intermediate, and malignant solid soft-tissue tumors.

Materials and methods: The Institutional Review Board approved this prospective study, and informed consent was obtained. IVIM imaging was performed in 64 patients including 44 benign, 6 intermediate, and 14 malignant solid soft-tissue tumors at 1.5T. The IVIM parameters of the soft-tissue tumors were assessed using the Kruskal-Wallis test. The diagnostic performance of the parameters was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

Results: The ADC and true diffusion coefficient (D) values of malignancies (1.28 ± 0.31, 1.06 ± 0.23 [×10-3 mm2 /sec]) were significantly lower than those of intermediate (1.49 ± 0.54, 1.30 ± 0.50 [×10-3 mm2 /sec]), or benign soft-tissue tumors (1.62 ± 0.37, 1.36 ± 0.33 [×10-3 mm2 /sec]) (P = 0.007 and P = 0.009, respectively). In the differential diagnosis of malignancies from benign tumors, ADC demonstrated the highest area under the curve (Az) value (Az = 0.793). The perfusion fraction (f) values of intermediate soft-tissue tumors (8.41 ± 2.73) were significantly different from those of benign and malignant tumors (14.70 ± 5.37 [P = 0.002]; 14.44 ± 5.31 [P = 0.021]). f showed the highest Az value in differentiating intermediate from benign, and malignant soft-tissue tumors (Az = 0.90, and Az = 0.833, respectively). The pseudodiffusion coefficient (D*) values of malignant soft-tissue tumors (144.40 ± 24.88 [×10-3 mm2 /sec]) were significantly higher than those of benign tumors (124.96 ± 26.24 [×10-3 mm2 /sec]) (P = 0.019).

Conclusion: IVIM imaging may be helpful for differentiating benign, intermediate, and malignant solid soft-tissue tumors.

Level of evidence: 1 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2017;46:1611-1618.

Keywords: diffusion-weighted imaging; intravoxel incoherent motion; quantitative imaging; soft-tissue tumors.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Soft Tissue Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Young Adult