Quantitative characterization of extraocular orbital lesions in children using diffusion-weighted imaging

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Pediatric Oncology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) provides insights into cellular density and tumor aggressiveness.
• Previous studies on orbital tumors using DWI have limited focus on pediatric populations.
• Few studies have exclusively evaluated pediatric orbital masses, often with small sample sizes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the utility of DWI and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in differentiating benign from malignant extraocular orbital lesions in children.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 73 pediatric patients (under 18) with extraocular orbital lesions.
• Clinical and radiological evaluation using DWI.
• Diagnosis confirmed by histology or clinical/radiological assessment.

Main Results:

• Malignant lesions exhibited increased diffusion restriction compared to benign lesions.
• Significantly lower ADC values were observed in malignant lesions (P<0.0001).
• ADC cutoff values of 0.99×10^-3 mm²/s and 1.26×10^-3 mm²/s demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity for differentiation.

Conclusions:

• Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements in pediatric extraocular orbital lesions can aid in distinguishing malignant from benign masses.