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Does the apparent diffusion coefficient from diffusion-weighted MRI imaging aid in the characterization of malignant soft tissue tumors and sarcomas

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Skeletal Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To identify trends in apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements from diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) with respect to tumor type classification and other tumor characteristics whether common malignant soft tissue tumors can be distinguished.

Materials and methods

A consecutive series of extremity malignant soft tissue tumors and soft tissue sarcomas (STS) among 78 adult patients with conventional MRI and DWI were included. Each case was evaluated with respect to T1/T2 signal alterations and heterogeneity, presence of peritumoral edema, necrosis, cystic changes, internal hemorrhage, and maximum longitudinal dimension blinded to the histology. The ADC mean and minimum were obtained using a free-hand region of interest of the whole tumor and the darkest (lowest signal area) ADC area of the tumor. Kruskal–Wallis and Wilcoxon Rank-Sum Tests were used to determine associations and significance between tumor subtypes. Intraclass correlation (ICC) and kappa calculations were utilized to assess inter-reader agreements for ADC values and reader diagnosis.

Results

Liposarcomas showed more heterogenous T1W images with hyperintense T1W signal when compared to tumors not classified as liposarcoma (P = 0.046 and P = 0.010, respectively). Liposarcomas were relatively consistent in demonstrating an absence of hemorrhage (81.8%) while undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas consistently showed intralesional hemorrhage (90%). When comparing individual tumor classifications against the rest of the samples, lymphomas registered lower mean and minimum ADC values in the whole tumor and in the most hypointense area of the tumor for both readers (P < 0.05). The interobserver agreement between the two readers was good to excellent for all four ADC measurements (ICC = 0.65–0.98).

Conclusion

Diffusion-weighted imaging generated ADC measurements are reproducible but currently offer limited insight in being able to differentiate among different malignant soft tissue tumor and sarcoma histologies. T1W and T2W signal characteristics also offer limited insight in differentiating between soft tissue malignancies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Radiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75022, USA

    Prajwal Gowda, Flavio Duarte Silva, Oganes Ashikyan, Yin Xi & Avneesh Chhabra

  2. Radiology, University of Arkansas Medical School, Little Rock, AR, USA

    Gitanjali Bajaj

  3. Orthopedic Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA

    Avneesh Chhabra

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  1. Prajwal Gowda
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  2. Gitanjali Bajaj
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  3. Flavio Duarte Silva
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  4. Oganes Ashikyan
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  5. Yin Xi
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  6. Avneesh Chhabra
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Correspondence to Avneesh Chhabra.

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Conflict of interest

AC receives royalties from Jaypee and Wolters. AC also serves as a consultant with ICON Medical and Treace Medical Concepts, Inc. AC is a speaker for Siemens. AC is a medical advisor and has a research grant from Image biopsy lab Inc.

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Gowda, P., Bajaj, G., Silva, F.D. et al. Does the apparent diffusion coefficient from diffusion-weighted MRI imaging aid in the characterization of malignant soft tissue tumors and sarcomas. Skeletal Radiol 52, 1475–1484 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-023-04289-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-023-04289-5

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