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Published on: December 15, 2014
Diffusion-Weighted Imaging for Differentiating Uterine Leiomyosarcoma From Degenerated Leiomyoma
Hai Ming Li1, Jia Liu, Jin Wei Qiang
1From the *Department of Radiology, Jinshan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai; †Department of Radiology, Nantong Cancer Hospital, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu; and Departments of ‡Radiology and §Pathology, Obstetrics & Gynecology Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Purpose:
The study aimed to investigate magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the differentiation of uterine leiomyosarcoma (ULMS) from degenerated leiomyoma (DLM).
Methods:
Sixteen patients with ULMSs and 26 patients with DLMs confirmed by surgery and pathology underwent conventional magnetic resonance imaging and DWI. The mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of the 2 groups' tumors were measured and compared using an independent-sample t test (b = 0.1000 s/mm [ADC1]; b = 0.800 s/mm [ADC2], respectively). A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of DWI in the differentiation of ULMS from DLM. Intraobserver and interobserver agreements were evaluated using an intraclass correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman analysis.
Results:
The mean ADC value in ULMSs (0.81 ± 0.14 × 10mm/s [ADC1], 0.90 ± 0.11 × 10mm/s [ADC2]) was significantly lower than that in DLMs (1.22 ± 0.22 × 10mm/s [ADC1], 1.50 ± 0.22 × 10mm/s [ADC2]) (P < 0.001, <0.001, respectively). The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive and negative predictive values for characterizing ULMS were 100%, 90%, 93%, and 83% and 100% [ADC1] and 100%, 93%, 96%, and 90% and 100% [ADC2]; respectively. Intraobserver and interobserver reproducibilities were excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.967-0.988; small variability and 95% limits of agreement).
Conclusions:
Diffusion-weighted imaging is helpful in differentiating ULMS from DLM.
