Minimum apparent diffusion coefficients in the evaluation of brain tumors

Objective: To determine whether diffusion-weighted imaging by using minimum apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC(min)) values could differentiate various brain tumors including gliomas, metastases, and lymphomas. Materials and methods: We examined 65 patients with histologically or clinically diagnosed brain tumors (12 low-grade gliomas, 31 high-grade gliomas, 14 metastatic tumors, and 8 lymphomas) using a 1.5 T MR unit. On diffusion-weighted imaging, the ADC(min) values were measured within the tumors and mean values were evaluated regarding statistical differences between groups. Results: The ADC(min). values of low-grade gliomas (1.09 +/- 0.20 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s) were significantly higher (p <.001) than those of other tumors. There were no statistical significant differences between glioblastomas (0.70 +/- 0.16 mm(2)/s), anaplastic astrocytomas (0.77 +/- 0.21 mm(2)/s), metastases (0.78 +/- 0.21 mm(2)/s), and lymphomas. But, lymphomas had lower mean ADC(min) values (0.54 +/- 10 mm(2)/s) than high-grade gliomas and metastases. Conclusion: The ADC measurements may help to differentiate low-grade gliomas from high-grade gliomas, metastases, and lymphomas. Although there is no statistical difference, lymphomas seem to have marked restriction in diffusion coefficients. (C) 2005 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.