Role of diffusion-weighted MR imaging in characterization of cervical lesions

Full text: Introduction: Characterization of neck lesions is usually not possible without histopathological examination. Objective: To evaluate whether adhesion diffusion coefficient (ADC) values calculated from diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging can be used to characterize neck lesions. Material and methods: Diffusion-weighted echo planar MR imaging with b factors of 0, 500 and 1000 sec/mm2 was prospectively performed with a 1.5 T MR unit in 119 neck lesions in 119 patients. ADC values were measured by 2 radiologists independently on an independent workstation console. Intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated. The mean ADC values were compared using Mann-whitney u test. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the mean ADC values of benign and malign solid lesions (1.13±0.62 x 10-3 mm2/s and 0.82±0.21 x 10-3mm2/s respectively). There was no malign lesion with an ADC value more than 1.15 x 10-3 mm2/s. The mean ADC value of malignant lymphomas (0.61±0.14 x 10-3) was significantly smaller than the mean ADC values of other cervical lymphadenopathies. But there was no statistically significant difference between the mean ADC values of reactive, granulomatous and metastatic lymph nodes. Conclusion: ADC values cannot totally distinguish the histopathological subgroups of the neck lesions but shows significant differences between malign and benign lesions.