title: Malignant versus benign mediastinal lesions: quantitative assessment with diffusion weighted MR imaging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to evaluate the performance of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in differentiating malignant from benign mediastinal lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-three mediastinal lesions were examined with T1- and T2-weighted (W) conventional images. Then, two diffusion-weighted images were obtained with b = 0 and 1000 s/mm² values and apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) were calculated. The statistical significance of differences between measurements was tested using the Student-t test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean ADC of malignant lesions was significantly lower than that of the benign masses (p < 0.001). The cut-off value of ≤ 1.39 × 10(-3) mm²/s indicated a malignant lesion with a sensitivity of 95% and specificity of 87%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diffusion-weighted imaging may be helpful in differentiating benign from malignant mediastinal masses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of Kocaeli, Kocaeli Uni. Tip Fak Radyoloji AD, 41380 Umuttepe Kocaeli, Turkey. svtgumustas@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Sevtap
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gümüştaş
authors.forename: Nagihan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Inan
authors.forename: Hasan Tahsin
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Sarisoy
authors.forename: Yonca
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Anik
authors.forename: Arzu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.forename: Ercüment
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ciftçi
authors.forename: Gür
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Akansel
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Demirci
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004058:Diffusion; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods