Value of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in differential diagnosis of primary gallbladder cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华消化外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the value of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in the differential diagnosis of primary gallbladder cancer with liver invasion and primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with gallbladder invasion. Methods From January 2009 to October 2010, 11 patients with primary gallbladder cancer and 19 patients with primary HCC were admitted to the PLA General Hospital. The clinical data of the 30 patients were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging with b value of 800 s/mm2, and the receiver operating curve (ROC) was drawn. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of the patients with gallbladder cancer and HCC were compared by independent sample t test. Results Thirty tumors were detected in the 30 patients. All tumors showed high signal on DWI, slightly low signal on T1 WI and slightly high signal on T2 WI. The foci of 11 patients with primary gallbladder cancer were at the gallbladder fossa, and 10 of them had liver involvement. The mean ADC value of the 11 patients was (0.89 ±0. 14)mm2/s. Of the 19 patients with primary HCC, the foci of 15 patients were at the right lobe of liver, and 4were at the left lobe. The mean ADC value of the 19 patients was (1.04 ±0.18)mm2/s. There was a significant difference in the ADC value between patients with primary gallbladder cancer and those with primary HCC ( t =2.425, P＜0. 05). The area under the ROC was 0. 756 (95% confidence interval 0.577-0. 935), and the sensitivity and specificity were 68.4% and 81.8%, respectively, when the threshold value was 0.96 mm2/s.Conclusion The ADC value of patients with primary gallbladder cancer is lower than those with primary HCC when the b value is 800 s/mm2, which is helpful in the differential diagnosis of primary gallbladder cancer and primary HCC.