Diffusion-Weighted MR Imaging of Pulmonary Lesions: Effectiveness of Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Quantification and Lesion-To-Spinal Cord Signal Intensity Ratio in the Lesion Characterization

Nevzat Karabulut¹, Vefa akmak¹

Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of lung is a useful adjunct to conventional chest MR imaging sequences improving lesion characterization. Differentiation of malignant tumors from benign lesions can be achieved using apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) quantification and lesion-to-spinal cord signal intensity ratio (LSR). Due to increased cellularity and less extracellular space impeding the water diffusion, malignant tumors tend to have reduced ADC and increased LSR. Our results show that ADC quantification is more accurate than LSR for the differentiation of lung lesions. Because DWI is a non-invasive technique improving lesion characterization, it should be incorporated into routine chest MR imaging protocols.