BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Conventional imaging techniques cannot be used to unambiguously and reliably differentiate malignant from benign vertebral compression fractures. Our hypothesis is that these malignant and benign vertebral lesions can be better distinguished on the basis of tissue apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs). The purpose of this study was to test this hypothesis by using a quantitative diffusion imaging technique. METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with known cancer and suspected metastatic vertebral lesions underwent 1.5-T conventional T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted imaging to identify the lesions. Diffusion-weighted images of the areas of interest were acquired by using a fast spin-echo diffusion pulse sequence with b values of 0-250 s/mm(2). The abnormal regions on the diffusion-weighted images were outlined by using the conventional images as guides, and the ADC values were calculated. On the basis of pathologic results and clinical findings, the cases were divided into two categories: benign compression fractures and metastatic lesions. The ADC values for each category were combined and plotted as histograms; this procedure was followed by statistical analysis. RESULTS: The patient group had 12 benign fractures and 15 metastases. The mean ADC values, as obtained from the histograms, were (1.9 +/- 0.3) x 10(-4) mm(2)/s and (3.2 +/- 0.5) x 10(-4) mm(2)/s for metastases and benign fractures, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that quantitative ADC mapping, instead of qualitative diffusion-weighted imaging, can provide valuable information in differentiating benign vertebral fractures from metastatic lesions.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Conventional imaging techniques cannot be used to unambiguously and reliably differentiate malignant from benign vertebral compression fractures. Our hypothesis is that these malignant and benign vertebral lesions can be better distinguished on the basis of tissue apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs). The purpose of this study was to test this hypothesis by using a quantitative diffusion imaging technique. METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with known cancer and suspected metastatic vertebral lesions underwent 1.5-T conventional T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted imaging to identify the lesions. Diffusion-weighted images of the areas of interest were acquired by using a fast spin-echo diffusion pulse sequence with b values of 0-250 s/mm(2). The abnormal regions on the diffusion-weighted images were outlined by using the conventional images as guides, and the ADC values were calculated. On the basis of pathologic results and clinical findings, the cases were divided into two categories: benign compression fractures and metastatic lesions. The ADC values for each category were combined and plotted as histograms; this procedure was followed by statistical analysis. RESULTS: The patient group had 12 benign fractures and 15 metastases. The mean ADC values, as obtained from the histograms, were (1.9 +/- 0.3) x 10(-4) mm(2)/s and (3.2 +/- 0.5) x 10(-4) mm(2)/s for metastases and benign fractures, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that quantitative ADC mapping, instead of qualitative diffusion-weighted imaging, can provide valuable information in differentiating benign vertebral fractures from metastatic lesions.
Authors: T Sugahara; Y Korogi; M Kochi; I Ikushima; Y Shigematu; T Hirai; T Okuda; L Liang; Y Ge; Y Komohara; Y Ushio; M Takahashi Journal: J Magn Reson Imaging Date: 1999-01 Impact factor: 4.813
Authors: J A Brunberg; T L Chenevert; P E McKeever; D A Ross; L R Junck; K M Muraszko; R Dauser; J G Pipe; A T Betley Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 1995-02 Impact factor: 3.825
Authors: Nicholas Bhojwani; Peter Szpakowski; Sasan Partovi; Martin H Maurer; Ulrich Grosse; Hendrik von Tengg-Kobligk; Lisa Zipp-Partovi; Nathan Fergus; Christos Kosmas; Konstantin Nikolaou; Mark R Robbin Journal: Quant Imaging Med Surg Date: 2015-10
Authors: Roland Bammer; Andreas M Herneth; Stephan E Maier; Kim Butts; Rupert W Prokesch; Huy M Do; Scott W Atlas; Michael E Moseley Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 2003-01 Impact factor: 3.825