Application of ADC measurement in characterization of renal cell carcinomas with different pathological types and grades by 3.0T diffusion-weighted MRI.
OBJECTIVE
To test the feasibility of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value obtained with 3.0 T diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the characterization of renal cell carcinomas (RCC) with different pathological subtypes and grades.


METHODS
A total of 137 patients who were diagnosed with RCC and underwent DWI were included in this study. The diagnosis was confirmed by pathological examination of surgical specimens. Images of DWI were obtained with b values of 0 and 800 s/mm2. The ADC values in the solid area of tumors and in the corresponding regions of contralateral normal renal parenchyma were measured and analyzed statistically.


RESULTS
The mean ADC value was significantly lower in RCC (1.381±0.444×10(-3) mm2/s) than in normal renal parenchyma (2.232±0.221×10(-3) mm2/s) (P<0.001). The ADC value was also statistically different between clear cell RCC (CCRCC) and non-CCRCC, and between different grades of CCRCC except grade I vs II and grade III vs IV.


CONCLUSIONS
ADC measurement on 3.0 T DWI provides useful information in diagnostic work-up of RCC in terms of differentiation of RCC and normal renal parenchyma, and characterization of RCC with different pathological subtypes and grades.
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Cancer Institute & Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China. yxd98@yahoo.com.cn
Xiaoduo
X
Yu
Meng
M
Lin
Han
H
Ouyang
Chunwu
C
Zhou
Hongtu
H
Zhang
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / 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*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity