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Diffusion-weighted MRI in inflammatory renal lesions: all that glitters is not RCC!

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Abstract

Objectives

To evaluate the diffusion characteristics of inflammatory renal lesions and assess whether apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values can distinguish them from renal-cell carcinomas (RCCs).

Methods

Eighty-eight patients underwent multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion-weighted (DW) MRI (at b values of 0 and 500 s/mm2) for characterisation of focal renal lesions. On retrospective evaluation, 15 patients had 20 inflammatory lesions and 33 patients had 36 RCCs. DW images were compared and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn to establish cut-off ADC values.

Results

All inflammatory lesions and 91.7% of RCCs showed restricted diffusion. DW images showed markedly restricted diffusion in fluid intensity areas of abscesses, whereas RCCs showed free diffusion in their cystic portions. Quantitatively, both abscesses and RCCs showed ADC values significantly lower than normal renal parenchyma [1.12 and 1.56 respectively vs 2.34 (× 10-3 mm2/s) for normal kidney] (P < 0.0001 for both) and significantly different from each other (P < 0.0001). ROC analysis in differentiating inflammatory lesions and RCC revealed high sensitivity (100%) and specificity (78.1%) for cut-off ADC value of 1.41 (× 10-3 mm2/s).

Conclusions

Both abscess and RCC showed restricted diffusion, the former did so to a greater extent, distinctly in fluid components. Thus, ADC values provide an additional paradigm for characterisation of indeterminate renal lesions.

Key Points

• Both RCCs and inflammatory lesions show restricted diffusion on MRI.

• Diffusion restriction is not specific for malignancy; rather, inflammatory lesions show greater restriction.

• Fluid components of abscesses show marked diffusion restriction; cystic components of RCC show free diffusion.

• ADC values and diffusion restriction pattern provide an additional paradigm for indeterminate lesions.

• DW MRI may obviate the need of intravenous contrast in abscesses, which is useful in patients with renal dysfunction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiodiagnosis, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (A.I.I.M.S.), Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, 110029, India

    Ankur Goyal, Raju Sharma, Ashu S. Bhalla & Shivanand Gamanagatti

  2. Department of Urology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (A.I.I.M.S.), New Delhi, India

    Amlesh Seth

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  1. Ankur Goyal
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  2. Raju Sharma
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  3. Ashu S. Bhalla
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  4. Shivanand Gamanagatti
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  5. Amlesh Seth
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Correspondence to Raju Sharma.

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Goyal, A., Sharma, R., Bhalla, A.S. et al. Diffusion-weighted MRI in inflammatory renal lesions: all that glitters is not RCC!. Eur Radiol 23, 272–279 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-012-2577-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-012-2577-0

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