Cukurova Medical Journal (Mar 2012)
Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Renal Lesion Characterization
Abstract
Objective: To present the diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging findings of the patients with renal lesions and to explore ADC values of cystic and solid lesions. Materials and Methods: 20 patients with renal lesion (16 men, 4 women) were included in the study. All patients evaluated with diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging. 9 patients had renal cell carcinoma, one patient had oncocytoma and 10 patients had cyst. Results: Between all ADC values of lesions and ADC values of normal kidney parenchyma were significantly different. In addition, ADC values of malignant lesions were significantly lower than ADC values of normal kidney parenchyma and cyst. The lowest ADC value of malignant lesions was 0.75x 10-3 mm2 / s. The ADC values of malignant lesions varied between 0.75x 10-3 - 2.25x 10-3 mm2 / s values for ADC (b0, 111, 222, 333 s/mm2) . Whereas the lowest ADC value of cysts were calculated 2.81x 10-3 mm2 / s. All cysts had hyperintense signal on T2 weighted and diffusion-weighted images and high ADC values on ADC maps. Malignant lesions had low ADC values on ADC maps. Conclusion: The technique has the advantage that it is non-invasive without need for gadolinium administration, takes about 2 minute. This method provides qualitative and quantitative infomation on tissue characterization. DA-MRI and ADC values are important for characterization of renal lesions. Especially, utility of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in the patients with risk for nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) could be beneficial. [Cukurova Med J 2012; 37(1): 27-36]
