Is it possible to differentiate between hydatid and simple cysts in the liver by means of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging?
OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to evaluate the contribution of diffusion-weighted imaging to the differentiation of hydatid cysts (HCs) from the simple cysts and to the identification of the HC subtypes.


METHODS
A total of 37 patients were included in this retrospective study. Fifty of these patients had diagnosed liver cysts (28 HCs and 22 simple cysts) of at least 1 cm in size. All of the cysts were examined with sonography and magnetic resonance imaging, and the HCs were classified according to the World Health Organization criteria.


RESULTS
Twenty-eight of the total 50 cysts were HCs, and 22 were simple cysts. When the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of all HCs were compared with the ADC values of the simple cysts, a statistically significant relationship was found (P=.001). The optimal ADC threshold value was established as 2.5 s/mm(2). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy rates were 60%, 95%, 94%, 65% and 76%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Diffusion-weighted imaging-magnetic resonance imaging is a considerably helpful technique for differentiating between HCs and simple cysts and for differentiating between HC subtypes.
GATA Haydarpasa Military Hospital, Department of Radiology, Istanbul, Turkey. gunersonmez@hotmail.com
Guner
G
Sonmez
Ali Kemal
AK
Sivrioglu
Hakan
H
Mutlu
Ersin
E
Ozturk
Mehmet
M
Incedayi
Bülent
B
Karaman
C Cinar
CC
Basekim
D003560:Cysts / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D004444:Echinococcosis, Hepatic / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult