Abstract:

Introduction: The purpose of this study is to provide a classification of different types of hepatic hydatid cysts by measuring the mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and exponential apparent diffusion coefficient (EADC) using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: A total of 60 patients (42 female, 18 male) and 79 lesions were included in this retrospective study. The patients were diagnosed with hepatic cyst lesions for various reasons according to the hospital’s abdominal MRI records, and therefore all patients had their diagnosis pathologically or serologically confirmed. ADC and EADC maps were obtained with values of b0, and b400 s/mm2, and mean ADC and EADC values were calculated for each lesion. Then, the mean value calculated for each cyst type is compared. Results: Regarding ADC values, we determined a statistically significant difference between types 1 and 4, types 2 and 4, and types 3 and 4 (p=0.001). When we compared EADC values, we found that EADC values of WHO type 4 lesions were higher than WHO type 1,2, and 5 lesions (p=0.001). Also, we divided our patients’ lesions into two groups, namely active (types 1,2,3) and inactive (types 4,5) lesions. When we compared each group’s mean ADC and EADC values, we determined a difference between active and inactive groups. When compared to inactive groups, ADC values of active lesions were higher, and EADC values were lower, as shown by statistics. Conclusion: Our study shows that ADC and EADC values may be useful for the differentiation of type 4 lesions from other types, and distinguishing of active and inactive groups.

Keywords: