The diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging: the role in the differantial diagnosis of breast lesions

9.1. NG L ZCE ÖZETPurpose: To evaluate the diagnostic value of diffusion imaging in distinguishing benignand malign breast lesions preoperatively.Materials and Methods: A total of 37 women between the age of 22-74 years (mean,37 years) with 34 histopathologically verifed breast lesions were investigated in thisstudy. The patients were examined by a 1,5 T system using bilateral phased array breastcoil. Spin echo echo planar diffusion imaging was used to scan patients. Images wereobtained by b values 0 and 1000 seconds/mm2 . Total diffusion scan time was 40seconds. The apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) was calculated on normalfibroglandular tissue and breast lesions. The comparison between the histopathologicaldiagnoses and the mean ADCs were performed by Mann Whitney U test with BenferroniCorrelation.Results: Out of 37 women, 4 had normally breast MRI findings. The diagnosis ofremaining 33 patients with 34 breast lesions were as follows; malign lesions (n=21),benign lesions (n=10) and simple breast cyst (n=3). The ADC values were as follows ( inunits of 10-3 mm2/sec ): Normal fibroglandular tissue (range:1,19-2,07, mean:1,61),benign breast lesions (range:1,08-2,46, mean: 1,55), cyts (range:2,29-2,38, mean: 2,33)and malignant breast lesions (range: 0,48-0,92, mean: 0,75). The mean ADC obtainedfrom malignant breast lesions was statistically different from that observed in benignsolid lesions (p = 0,00) and normal fibroglandular breast tissue (p = 0,00). Furthermore,the mean ADC values of benign breast lesions was not statistically different from cyst (p= 0,01) and normal fibroglandular breast tissue (p = 0,26).Conclusions: Diffusion imaging can be used in differentiation of malign and benignbreast lesions.