Functional imaging with diffusion-weighted MRI for lung biopsy planning: initial experience.

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Oncology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Lung lesions suspicious for malignancy require accurate biopsy for diagnosis.
• Transthoracic CT-guided biopsy is a common procedure for lung lesions.
• Limitations exist in conventional imaging for precise biopsy targeting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of diffusion-weighted MRI (DW-MRI) and PET/CT in guiding transthoracic CT-guided lung biopsies.
• To assess if functional imaging improves the selection of biopsy targets.
• To determine if these methods ensure adequate tissue collection for diagnosis.

Main Methods:

• Thirteen patients with suspicious lung lesions underwent CT-guided biopsy.
• DW-MRI and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) mapping were used for biopsy planning.
• PET/CT was performed in eight patients to identify optimal biopsy sites.
• Fused images from MRI and CT were utilized for targeting.

Main Results:

• DW-MRI identified suspicious areas with high signal intensity and low ADCs, indicative of high cellularity.
• PET/CT revealed areas of high 18-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake correlating with DW-MRI findings.
• All biopsies successfully yielded adequate material for histopathological diagnosis.

Conclusions:

• Functional imaging, including DW-MRI and PET/CT, is beneficial for planning lung biopsies.
• These techniques improve the overall performance of biopsy procedures.
• DW-MRI and PET/CT facilitate the collection of adequate tissue for specific diagnoses.