Diffusion Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging for the Characterization of Solitary Pulmonary Lesions

We evaluated the differential diagnosis of solitary pulmonary lesions on magnetic resonance imaging.

To investigate the value of diffusion weighted imaging on the differential diagnosis of solitary pulmonary lesions.

Randomized prospective study.

This prospective study included 48 solitary pulmonary nodules and masses (18 benign, 30 malignant). Single shot echo planar spin echo diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) was performed with two b factors (0 and 1000 s/mm(2)). Apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) were calculated. On diffusion weighted (DW) trace images, the signal intensities (SI) of the lesions were visually compared to the SI of the thoracic spinal cord using a 5-point scale: 1: hypointense, 2: moderately hypointense, 3: isointense, 4: moderately hyperintense, 5: significantly hyperintense. For the quantitative evaluation, the lesion to thoracic spinal signal intensity ratios and the ADCs of the lesions were compared between groups.

On visual evaluation, taking the density of the spinal cord as a reference, most benign lesions were found to be hypointense, while most of the malignant lesions were evaluated as hyperintense on DWI with a b factor of 1000 s/mm(2). In contrast, on T2 weighted images, it was seen that the distinction of malignant lesions from benign lesions was not statistically significant. The ADCs of the malignant lesions were significantly lower than those of benign lesions (mean ADC was 2.02×10(-3) mm(2)/s for malignant lesions, and 1.195×10(-3)±0.3 mm(2)/s for benign lesions). Setting the cut-off value at 1.5×10(-3), ADC had a sensitivity of 86.7% and a specificity of 88.9% for the differentiation of benign lesions from malignant lesions.

DWI may aid in the differential diagnosis of solitary pulmonary lesions. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02482181).