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The Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) as a Potential Marker of Inflammation Associated with Body Abscesses
Shuichi Kawada1, Taro Takahara, Tamaki Ichikawa
1Department of Radiology, Tokai University School of Medicine, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara, Kanagawa 259-1193, Japan. kawashu@is.icc.u-tokai.ac.jp.
Objective:
To assess the feasibility of apparent diffusion coefficient analysis in evaluating the inflammatory severity of extracranial abscesses.
Methods:
This retrospective study included 23 patients with solitary body abscesses (except those in the brain) who underwent 1.5-T diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) at b-values of 0 and 1000 s/mm2. Three types of the Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) measurements of abscesses were performed: the mean ADC value in region of interest (ROI), volume of interest (VOI), and histogram analysis of the ADC distribution in the VOI. Furthermore, two different areas were used: high-intensity area on b = 0 and b = 1000 s/mm2 images. Subsequently, correlations between ADC data and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficient (R) analyses.
Results:
The strongest correlation was observed between the mean ADC value in VOI and CRP level (R = 0.78, P < 0.01), followed by ROI (R = 0.77, P < 0.01) by using the high-intensity area on the b = 0 s/mm2 images.
Conclusion:
The mean ADC value in the ROI encompassing the abscess at a b-value of 0 s/mm2 may be useful to assess the inflammatory activity of an abscess in daily practice.