Intravoxel Incoherent Motion Diffusion-weighted Imaging: Evaluation of the Differentiation of Solid Hepatic Lesions.

PURPOSE

To evaluate whether intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM)-related parameters could be used to differentiate malignant from benign focal liver lesions (FLLs) and to improve diagnostic efficiency.

METHODS

Seventy-four patients with 75 lesions, including 51 malignant FLLs and 24 benign FLLs, underwent liver 3.0-T magnetic resonance imaging for routine examination sequences. IVIM diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) with 11 b values (0-800s/mm) was also acquired concurrently. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and IVIM-derived parameters, such as the pure diffusion coefficient (D), the pseudodiffusion coefficient (D), and the perfusion fraction (f), were calculated and compared between the two groups. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to assess their diagnostic value.

RESULTS

ADC, D, and f were significantly lower in the malignant group than in the benign group, whereas D did not show a statistical difference. D had a larger area under the curve value (0.968) and higher sensitivity (92.30%) for differentiation.

CONCLUSION

IVIM is a useful method to differentiate malignant and benign FLLs. The D value showed higher efficacy to detect hepatic solid lesions.