title: Initial experience of 3 tesla apparent diffusion coefficient values in differentiating benign and malignant thyroid nodules.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the role of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWMRI) in differentiating benign and malignant thyroid nodules using a 3 Tesla (T) MRI scanner.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight nodules in 25 patients and 14 healthy control cases were included in the study. DWMRI was acquired with 6 b values with a 3T MRI scanner. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of the nodules were calculated from reconstructed ADC map images and were compared with the final histopathological diagnoses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean ADC value of the benign nodules was 1548 ± 353.4 (×10(-6) mm(2) /s), and the mean ADC of the malignant nodules was 814 ± 177.12 (×10(-6) mm(2) /s). The normal thyroid tissue had a mean ADC value of 1323.43 ± 210.35 × 10(-6) mm(2) /s (958-1689 × 10(-6) mm(2) /s) in the healthy control group. The ADC values were significantly different among the three groups (P = 0.001). An ADC value of 905 × 10(-6) mm(2) /s was determined to be the cutoff value for differentiating benign and malignant nodules, with 90% (55.5-98.3) sensitivity and 100% (81.3-100.0) specificity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that the ADC values of nodules measured with a 3T MRI scanner could help in differentiating benign thyroid nodules from malignant nodules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Gulhane Military Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey. aturca2002@yahoo.com
authors.forename: A Turan
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Ilica
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Artaş
authors.forename: Asli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ayan
authors.forename: Armağan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Günal
authors.forename: Ozdes
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Emer
authors.forename: Zafer
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kilbas
authors.forename: Coskun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meric
authors.forename: Mehmet Mahir
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Atasoy
authors.forename: Ovsev
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Uzuner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000473:pathology*