Preliminary study of diffusion-weighted imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging in Kimura disease

In this study, we evaluated the value of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy imaging (MRSI) combined with computed tomography (CT) and conventional MR imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of Kimura disease (KD). The clinical data and CT and MRI findings of 5 patients with KD proven by histopathologic examination were retrospectively reviewed. Diffusion-weighted imaging and MRSI were performed at 1.5 T in 3 patients with KD. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values and the choline/creatine ratio of the lesions were compared with those of the contralateral normal parotid glands. All imaging results were compared with histopathologic findings. The typical features of KD were subcutaneous lesions, continuously infiltrative parotid lesions with or without intraparotid lymphadenopathies, and reactive cervical lymphadenopathies on CT and conventional MRI. On DWI, the ADC values of all subcutaneous and infiltrative parotid lesions were higher compared to those of normal parotid glands, and the ADC values of reactive lymphadenopathies were lower compared to both. The choline/creatine levels of subcutaneous and infiltrative parotid lesions were slightly higher than those of normal parotid glands. In conclusion, DWI and MRSI offer valuable information that may be characteristic of KD, which can highly suggest the diagnosis of KD when combined with morphological imaging.