title: Role of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and apparent diffusion coefficient values in the detection of gastric carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study evaluated the applicability of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in the diagnosis and staging of gastric carcinoma (GC).
  
  
  METHODS
  From December, 2013 to December, 2014, 35 GC patients were selected from the Department of Oncology. Carcinomatous gastric tissues were collected as the case group, and normal gastric tissues were collected as the control group. The DW-MRI examination was performed on a 3.0-T GE Signa Excite MRI scanner. The ADC values of carcinomatous and normal gastric tissues were measured. A statistical meta-analysis was further performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DW-MRI identified 75.0% (3/4) patients with T1, 75.0% (6/8) patients with T2, 86.4% (19/22) patients with T3, and 100.0% (1/1) patient with T4, showing an accuracy for T staging of 82.9% (29/35); identified 92.9% (13/14) patients of N0, 58.3% (7/12) patents of N1, 62.5% (5/8) patents of N2, and 100.0% (1/1) patients of N3, showing an accuracy for N staging of 74.3% (26/35). The average ADC value in the case group was apparently lower than the control group (P < 0.001); in the poorly differentiated group was lower than the moderately and well differentiated groups (F = 111.1, P < 0.001). Pairwise comparison of the average ADC value between the poorly, moderately and well differentiated groups showed statistical significance (all P < 0.05). Meta-analysis further confirmed a higher average ADC value in the case group than the control group (SMD = -4.136, 95% CI = -5.344~-2.928, P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DW-MRI is proved to be an attractive, noninvasive, quantitative and useful technique in the diagnosis and staging of GC.
authors.affiliation: Shandong University Jinan 250012, P. R. China ; Department of Radiology, Dongying People's Hospital Dongying 257091, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Jianxiao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of MRI Division, Shengli Oilfield Central Hospital Dongying 257034, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Hailian
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Jinan 250014, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Qingwei
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Dongying People's Hospital Dongying 257091, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Hongfu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Services, Dongying People's Hospital Dongying 257091, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Jiangquan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Dongying People's Hospital Dongying 257091, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Engang
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cui
keywords: Gastric carcinoma; N staging; T staging; apparent diffusion coefficient; degree of differentiation; diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging; meta-analysis