title: The role of diffusion-weighted MR imaging and ADC values in the diagnosis of gastric tumors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate the role of diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI) in the diagnosis of gastric tumors by means of measuring the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of these lesions, and making a comparison with the endoscopic biopsy results.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy patients having gastric tumor constituted the case group. For the control group 30 healthy individuals were included. Abdominal MRI examinations were performed with a 1,5 Tesla unit. DWI examinations were obtained by single shot spin echoplanar imaging. The ADC was measured based on the tissue of the gastric tumoral entities and normal gastric mucosa in the control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean ADC values were 0,84 +/- 0,17 x 10(-3) mm2/s and 1,79 +/- 0,08 x 10 mm2/s in gastric tumor group and in control group, respectively, being statistically significant (p<0.05).There was no significance among ADC values of adenocarcinoma subgroups. The comparison of the ADC values in the adenocarcinoma and lymphoma cases were also found to be statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DWI is beneficial in the diagnosis of malignant gastric lesions by the aid of ADC measurements. Although ADC quantification seems to be invaluable in the evaluation of histopathologic subgroups of adenocarcinoma, it can help in the diagnosis of gastric lymphoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey. serhatavcu@hotmail.com
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Avcu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Unal
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kotan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Izmirli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*