Abstract
Background: To determine the potential ability of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with single-shot echo-planar imaging (DW imaging) in the upper abdomen by apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and signal:intensity ratio (SIR) measurements.
Methods: DW imaging was performed in 61 clinical patients. ADCs in the liver, pancreas, spleen, kidney, and different pathological conditions were calculated. Spleen-to-liver SIR and segmental intensity difference of the liver (SID) were also calculated.
Results: The mean ADCs (mm2/s) were 2.28 × 10−3± 0.07 in the liver, 1.44 × 10−3± 0.05 in the spleen, 1.94 × 10−3± 0.19 in the pancreas, and 5.76 × 10−3± 0.06 in the kidney. The mean ADC of cirrhotic liver was 1.96 × 10−3± 0.62, which was lower than that of normal liver. Other pathologic conditions also showed ADCs different from those of normal tissues. All DW images showed significantly higher spleen-to-liver SIRs and SIDs than did T2-weighted images (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: The mean ADCs obtained with DW imaging were different in each upper abdominal organ and with each pathologic condition. DW images showed better soft tissue contrast than did T2-weighted images with regard to SIR and CNR in depicting and characterizing upper abdominal disorders.
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Received: 24 July 1998/Revision accepted: 2 December 1998
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Ichikawa, T., Haradome, H., Hachiya, J. et al. Diffusion-weighted MR imaging with single-shot echo-planar imaging in the upper abdomen: preliminary clinical experience in 61 patients. Abdom Imaging 24, 456–461 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002619900539
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002619900539