Potential of diffusion-weighted MR in differentiating primary malignant liver tumorenhanced in delayed phase and cavernous hemangioma
BAI Ruo-bing1, GUO Qi-yong1, SHI Yu1, LU Zai-ming1, YANG Jing-chuan2, SUN Bao-hai1
1.Department of Radiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China;2.Training Department of Magnetic Resonance, Great China Region of Philips, Shanghai 200233, China
Abstract：Objective: To investigate the potential of diffusion-weighted MR imaging(DWI) in differentiating primary malignant liver tumor enhanced in delayed phase on contrast-enhanced MRI and cavernous hemangioma. Materials and Methods: Diffusion weighted MR scans were performed using an 1.5T MR scanner at a b value of 500s/mm2 in 32 cases of focal hepatic lesions enhanced in delayed phase on contrast-enhanced MRI, including 11 cavernous hemangiomas and 21 primary malignant tumors(9 hepatocellular carcinomas, 12 cholangiocarcinomas). Quantitative analysis was performed using the regions of interest(ROI) settled on these tumors. The mean ADC values of cavernous hemangioma, hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma were calculated and analyzed by student t tests respectively. P value of less than 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance. Results: The mean ADC value of hepatocellular carcinoma[(1.28±0.46)×10-3] and cholangiocarcinoma[(1.61±0.38)×10-3] were significantly lower than that of cavernous hemangioma[(2.85±0.89)×10-3](t=4.780, P=0.000; t=3.7025, P=0.001 respectively). However, there were no significant differences of mean ADC values between hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma(t=1.8008, P=0.088). Conclusion: DWI might be helpful to differentiate primary malignant liver tumor enhanced in delayed phase on contrast-enhanced MRI from cavernous hemangioma.
2011, Vol. 22 
