Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in differentiation of postobstructive consolidation from central lung carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To prospectively evaluate diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for differentiation of postobstructive consolidation from centrally located lung carcinomas by using apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs).


METHODS
An institutional review board approved this study; informed consent was obtained from patients. Forty-nine consecutive patients (3 women, 46 men; mean age, 63.6 years; age range, 42-85 years) with lung carcinoma underwent DW MR imaging. Forty patients had central and nine patients had peripheral lung carcinomas. ADC of each lung carcinoma was calculated from DW MR images obtained with two different b values (0, 1000 s/mm(2)). In the final study group including 27 patients with central lung carcinoma accompanying distal lung consolidation (mean age, 67.2 years; 3 women, 24 men), ADCs of lung carcinomas were statistically compared among cytologic/histologic types and accompanying postobstructive consolidations. Unpaired t test was used for measurable variables with normal distribution, and Kruskal-Wallis variance analysis and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for the measurable variables without normal distribution.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference between mean ADC values of all types of carcinomas (P=.302) and also between mean ADC values of central (1.91 +/- 0.7x10(-3) mm(2)/s) and peripheral carcinomas (1.58 +/- 0. 6x10(-3) mm(2)/s) (P=.224). The mean ADC value for the masses of central lung carcinoma with postobstructive consolidations was 1.83 +/- 0.75x10(-3) mm(2)/s, and for consolidation was 2.50 +/- 0.76x10(-3) mm(2)/s. ADC of central carcinoma masses was significantly lower than that of postobstructive consolidations (P=.003).


CONCLUSIONS
ADC values of central lung carcinoma masses appear to be lower than accompanying postobstructive consolidations. ADC values could be considered useful as a differentiating parameter among central lung carcinomas and accompanying postobstructive consolidations.
Baysal
Tamer
T
Department of Radiology, Inonu University Faculty of Medicine, T. Ozal Medical Center, 44069 Malatya, Turkey. tbaysal@inonu.edu.tr
Mutlu
Deniz Yakar
DY
Yologlu
Saim
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods