Clinical application of diffusion-weighted imaging in the femoral head necrosis patients

Objective: To summarize and analyze the imaging features of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in femoral head necrosis (FHN) patients and provide the basis for the diagnosis of FHN. Methods: The magnetic resonance signal distribution and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in 22 normal person and 42 FHN patients were analyzed and compared. Results: The homogeneous high signal was showed in T1WI and T2WI imaging for normal person and low signal in DWI. The slightly low signal in T1WI, the high signal and slightly inhomogeneous signal in T2WI and the heterogeneous high signal in DWI were showed for FHN patients. The ADC normal value of normal person, the around area and central area of FHN patients were (0.000-0.036) x 10-3 mm2/s, (0.111-0.311) x 10-3 mm2/s and (0.845-1.397) x 10-3 mm2/s respectively, there was statistically significant difference among three areas (F=1384.28, P<0.05). Conclusion: There is specificity in DWI signal distribution and ADC normal value in FHN patients compared with normal person. DWI can be used for the diagnosis of FHN patients and the ADC value can be used for quantify analysis of bone marrow lesions. (authors)