Abstract： Objective To explore the value of diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI) and apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC) in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant neck lymph node lesions.Methods Conventional MRI(T1WI and T2WI) and SE-EPI DWI(b=500,800 and 1 000 mm2·s-1) were performed in 62 patients with cervical lymphadenectasis(48 patients with malignant lymph node lesions and 14 patients with benign lymph node lesions).At the same time,ADC values were measured and mean ADC values were calculated.Results Both benign and malignant lymph nodes showed high signal intensity on DWI.Compared with conventional MRI sequences(T1WI and T2WI),DWI resulted in image distortion and the distortion became more significant with increased b values.There were significant differences in mean ADC values between malignant lymph nodes and benign lymph nodes [(0.827±0.431)×10-3 mm2·s-1vs(1.225±0.283)×10-3 mm2·s-1,P<0.01].Conclusion DWI has a higher value for differential diagnosis of benign and malignant neck lymph lesions than conventional MRI.The ADC values contributes to quantitative analysis of benign and malignant lymph lesions.
2011, Vol. 53 
