The role of proton MR spectroscopy and apparent diffusion coefficient values in the diagnosis of malignant thyroid nodules: preliminary results.
OBJECTIVE
Performance of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-MRS) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in the diagnosis of malignant thyroid nodules.


METHODS
In a retrospective study with malignant nodules of 14 patients, H-MRS and diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI) were performed. Choline (Cho) peak, Cho/creatine (Cr) ratio, and ADC values of malignant nodules were correlated with the five benign nodules and four normal-appearing thyroid lobe parenchymata. The gold standard reference was fine needle aspiration biopsy and histopathology.


RESULTS
At echo time 40-144-ms acquisitions, average Cho/Cr ratio for the malignant nodules was 2.95±1.54-5.30±2.38, cutoff values were >0.805 and >1.225, and ADC values were 0.06±0.02.


CONCLUSIONS
H-MRS acquisitions, DWI, and ADC mapping give diagnostic data about the nature of the nodules.
Radiology Department, Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. dr.hasanaydin@hotmail.com
Hasan
H
Aydın
Volkan
V
Kızılgöz
İdil
İ
Tatar
Çağrı
Ç
Damar
Hakan
H
Güzel
Baki
B
Hekimoğlu
Tuncay
T
Delibaşı
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D015331:Cohort Studies; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012372:ROC Curve; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology