title: Quantitative evaluation of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of focal hepatic lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the quantitative analysis of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWMRI) in differential diagnosis of focal hepatic lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  DWMRI was performed in 149 hepatic lesions, including hepatocellular carcinoma (34 cases), hepatic metastases (37 cases), cavernous hemangioma (42 cases), hepatic cyst (36 cases). Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were evaluated using four different b values in different sequences. The ratio of ADC values of lesion/liver in hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatic metastases was also calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean ADC values of hepatic lesions were as follows: hepatocellular carcinoma (0.95+/-0.11)x10(-3) mm2/s, hepatic metastasis (1.13+/-0.21)x10(-3)mm2/s, cavernous hemangioma (1.86+/-0.36)x10(-3) mm2/s, hepatic cyst (3.14+/-0.31)x10(-3) mm2/s. The ratio of ADC values in lesion/liver in hepatocellular carcinoma was 0.91+/-0.11, being significantly different from that in hepatic metastasis (1.21+/-0.18, P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ADC values and quantitative analysis of focal hepatic lesions are of significant values in differential diagnosis of focal hepatic lesions.
authors.affiliation: Imaging Center, Affiliated Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Xi-Jie
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Xian-Yue
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Quan
authors.forename: Fan-Heng
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Yi-Kai
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology*; D003560:Cysts / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006392:Hemangioma, Cavernous / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged