[Clinical significance of diffusion-weighted MRI with STIR-EPI in differential diagnosis of cervical lymph nodes].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of a new MRI imaging method--diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) with short TI version recovery-echo planar imaging (STIR-EPI) sequence in differentiating benign cervical lymph nodes from malignant ones. METHODS Twenty nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients and fourteen volunteers received both conventional MRI and DWI with STIR-EPI. Ability of detecting lymph nodes between conventional MRI and STIR-EPI-DWI was compared, and the difference of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value between metastatic lymph node and normal lymph node was analyzed.


RESULTS
DWI was more sensitive in detecting lymph node than conventional MRI. ADC value of metastatic lymph node (0. 766 +/- 0. 119) x 10 (-3) mm(2)/s was significantly lower than that of normal lymph node (0. 975 +/- 0. 179) x 10 - mm2/s (P < 0. 01).


CONCLUSIONS
As a new MRI imaging technique in detecting cervical lymph nodes, diffusion weighted imaging ( DWI) with short TI version recovery-echo planar imaging ( STIR-EPI) sequence is more reliable and sensitive than conventional MRI imaging, providing an alternative way to differentiate benign lymph nodes from malignant ones.
Zhang
Yun
Y
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Second Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China.
Liang
Bi-ling
BL
Gao
Li
L
Zhong
Jing-lian
JL
Ye
Rui-xin
RX
Shen
Jun
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D017352:Echo-Planar Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009333:Neck; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity