title: The role of apparent diffusion coefficient values in detecting testicular intraepithelial neoplasia: preliminary results.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study is to improve detection of testicular intraepithelial neoplasia (TIN) by measurement of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-six MRI examinations of the scrotum, including 26 histologically proven testicular germ cell neoplasms were retrospectively evaluated. DWI was performed using a single shot, multi-slice spin-echo planar diffusion pulse sequence and b-values of 0 and 900 s mm(-2). ADC measurements were classified into three groups according to their location: group 1 (n=19), non-tumoral part, adjacent to testicular carcinoma, where the possible location of TIN was; group 2 (n=26), testicular carcinoma; and group 3 (n=60), normal testicular parenchyma. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by post hoc analysis (Dunnett T3) was used for statistical purposes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean±s.d. of ADC values (×10(-3) mm(2)/s) of different groups were: group 1, 1.08±0.20; group 2, 0.72±0.27; and group 3, 1.11±0.14. ANOVA revealed differences of mean ADC between groups (F=38.859, P<0.001). Post hoc analysis showed differences between groups 2 and 3 (P<0.001), groups 2 and 1 (P<0.001), but not between groups 3 and 1 (P=0.87).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on our preliminary results, ADC values do not provide a reliable differentiation between TIN and testicular carcinoma or normal testicular parenchyma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece. Electronic address: a_tsili@yahoo.gr.
authors.forename: Athina C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Tsili
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece. Electronic address: alexdorkou@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ntorkou
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece. Electronic address: Greece.dbaltog@cc.uoi.gr.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baltogiannis
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece. Electronic address: agoussia@uoi.gr.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goussia
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece. Electronic address: astrakas@uoi.gr.
authors.forename: Loukas G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Astrakas
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece. Electronic address: vmalamou@cc.uoi.gr.
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Malamou-Mitsi
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece. Electronic address: akrosnin@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sofikitis
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece. Electronic address: margyrop@cc.uoi.gr.
authors.forename: Maria I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Argyropoulou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000473:pathology*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000473:pathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012611:Scrotum / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology*; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Cancer of the testis; Diffusion weighted MRI; Magnetic resonance imaging; Testicular neoplasm