title: Role of diffusion MRI and apparent diffusion coefficient measurement in the diagnosis, staging and pathological classification of bladder tumors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to investigate the role of simultaneous apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurement and diffusion-weighted MRI (DWMRI) in the diagnosis and differentiation of bladder masses.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined 45 patients presenting with hematuria by dynamic and diffusion MRI (at b100, b600, b1000 gradients) and cystoscopy. Thirty healthy volunteers without hematuria were also included in the study. Results from imaging techniques were compared to cystoscopic and histopathologic findings. The ADC values of benign and malignant bladder masses, and bladder tissue in healthy subjects were measured and compared with each other.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean ADC values of benign (n = 10) and malignant lesions (n = 35) were significantly lower than the mean ADC values of adjacent bladder walls and bladder walls of healthy subjects at all 3 gradients (p < 0.05). However, no significant difference was detected between benign and malignant lesions (p > 0.05). Mean ADC values of invasive tumors were significantly lower than superficial malignancies at b600 and b1000 gradients. The mean ADC values of transitional cell tumors were significantly higher than squamous cell tumors at b100 and b600 gradients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Simultaneous measurement ofADC and DWMRI provided useful information in the diagnosis, staging and histopathological classification of bladder tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mansur
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dağgülli
authors.forename: Mehmet Ruhi
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Onur
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fırdolaş
authors.forename: Rahmi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Onur
authors.forename: Ercan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kocakoç
authors.forename: İrfan
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Orhan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis; D003556:Cystitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D003558:Cystoscopy / Q000379:methods; D004058:Diffusion; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006417:Hematuria / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods*; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000503:physiopathology; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*