Evaluation of diffusion-weighted imaging for the differential diagnosis of poorly contrast-enhanced and T2-prolonged bone masses: Initial experience.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether quantitative diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is useful for characterizing poorly contrast-enhanced and T2-prolonged bone masses.


METHODS
We studied 20 bone masses that showed high signal intensity on T2-weighted images and poor enhancement on contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images. These included eight solitary bone cysts, five fibrous dysplasias, and seven chondrosarcomas. To analyze diffusion changes we calculated the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) for each lesion.


RESULTS
The ADC values of the two types of benign lesions and chondrosarcomas were not significantly different. However, the mean ADC value of solitary bone cysts (mean +/-SD, 2.57 +/- 0.13 x 10(-3) mm(2)/second) was significantly higher than that of fibrous dysplasias and chondrosarcomas (2.0 +/- 0.21 x 10(-3) mm(2)/second and 2.29 +/- 0.14 x 10(-3) mm(2)/second, respectively, P < 0.05). None of the lesions with ADC values lower than 2.0 x 10(-3) mm(2)/second were chondrosarcomas.


CONCLUSIONS
Although there was some overlapping in the ADC values of chondrosarcomas, solitary bone cyst, and fibrous dysplasia, quantitative DWI may aid in the differential diagnosis of poorly contrast-enhanced and T2-prolonged bone masses.
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan. l-doll@tb3.so-net.ne.jp
Yoshiko
Y
Hayashida
Toshinori
T
Hirai
Toshitake
T
Yakushiji
Kazuhiro
K
Katahira
Osamu
O
Shimomura
Masanori
M
Imuta
Takeshi
T
Nakaura
Daisuke
D
Utsunomiya
Kazuo
K
Awai
Yasuyuki
Y
Yamashita
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001845:Bone Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D002813:Chondrosarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005357:Fibrous Dysplasia of Bone / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D003287:Contrast Media