title: Differentiation between pelvic abscesses and pelvic tumors with diffusion-weighted MR imaging: a preliminary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Use diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in differentiating pelvic abscess from pelvic cystic tumor.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with pelvic abscess (n=23) or pelvic cystic tumor (n=15) who underwent diffusion-weighted MRI were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pelvic abscesses showed hyperintensity on diffusion-weighted MRI and hypointensity on apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map. The mean ADC values of fluid in pelvic abscess and pelvic tumors were 0.73 ± 0.15 × 10(-3) and 2.27 ± 0.45 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s, respectively. Pelvic abscesses had significantly lower ADC values than pelvic cystic tumors (P<.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diffusion-weighted MRI provides a noncontrast method for interpreting pelvic cystic lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Chen-Pin
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Shih-Hwa
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chiou
authors.forename: Robin B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Levenson
authors.forename: Jer-Shyung
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Tsung-Lung
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Chia-Cheng
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: An-Jen
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Huay-Ben
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Pan
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003560:Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010386:Pelvic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012372:ROC Curve; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric