Diffusion weighted MRI findings for differentiation malign and benign pelvic masses

The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical usage of Diffusion Weighted MRI in order to differentiate malign versus benign tumors of female patients with possible diagnosis of pelvic mass using lower abdomen Diffusion Weighted MRI.The study comprised totally 125 cases with an age range of 16 to 75 possible diagnosis of pelvic tumor and requested lower abdomen MR imaging in MR Unit of the Department of Radiology between October 2007 and October 2008. Diffusion weighted EPI imaging of these patients have been performed at respectively b100, b600, b1000 gradient rates. If pelvic mass was detected, ADC values of lesions have been measured. While a group of cases were being only clinically followed-up, the remaining ones were operated. The histopathology results of operated cases were compared with tumor ADC values, in terms of malign and benign ones.ADC values (b100, b600, b1000) of 35 patients with malign lesions were (respectively 2.18x10?3; 1.47x10?3; 1.22x10?3) lower than the ADC values of 90 patients with benign lesions (2.60x10?3; 2.05x10?3; 1.79x10?3 mm2/s; respectively) and the difference was considered to be statistically significant (p<0,05).In conclusion; diffusion MRI with ADC measurement can contribute to differentiate malign versus benign tumors. As a fast, noninvasive, no need to contrast media and effective imaging technique, DWI can be considered an alternative to the existing diagnosis techniques. Hence, there is a need for more detailed and controlled different case studies to be done in order to include this technique into the routine MRI protocols.Key Words: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), pelvic mass, ADC, Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI).