DWI in characterization of complex ovarian masses, would it help?

• Main Authors: Moh Salah Ibrahim Tantawy, Mohamed M. Elrakhawy, Ahmad El-Morsy, Gehad Ahmad Saleh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SpringerOpen 2018-09-01
• Series: The Egyptian Journal of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378603X18300068

Objective: To define the role of diffusion-weighted imaging & apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in characterizing complex ovarian masses, with particular concern to differentiating benign versus malignant masses. Materials and methods: We enrolled in this prospective study 30 patients with complex cystic ovarian masses between June 2014 and July 2015. Pelvic MRI and diffusion weighted images at b value of 0, 500, 1000 and 1500 s/mm2 at 1.5 T unit were performed for all patient. The mean ADC values were calculated for both solid & cystic component of the masses. The final diagnoses were confirmed by either pathological examination or culture of aspiration material. Results: Included masses proved benign in 17 (56%) and malignant in 13 (44%). ADC of solid component of malignant showing no statistically significant difference from that of the benign lesions, while ADC values of cystic component in malignant masses were significantly higher than those in benign masses (p < 0.05). The Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis indicated that a cutoff ADC value of 1.97 × 10−3 mm2/s may be the optimal one for differentiating between benign and malignant masses. Conclusion: The combination of DWI with ADC value measurement and conventional MRI is useful for differentiating benign and malignant ovarian masses. Keywords: MRI, Complex ovarian masses, Diffusion-weighted MRI, Apparent diffusion coefficient