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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic contribution of diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for characterization of hepatic masses and differentiation of benign and malignant lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with focal liver lesions that were detected by US or CT scan underwent diffusionweighted MRI (DWI) in addition to routine MRI. Two b values (b=0 s/mm2, 1000 s/mm2) were used and the quantitative analysis of the diffusion (ADC) was calculated. RESULTS: The liver masses were diagnosed on histology or had characteristic MRI findings and follow up of more than 6 months. The analyzed lesions were hemangioma (n = 9), cysts (n = 2), hepatocellular cancer (HCC) (n = 20), and metastases (n = 7). CONCLUSION: The diffusion-weighted MRI sequence is a useful diagnostic tool and it can contribute to accurate diagnosis and discrimination between benign and malignant hepatic masses. The single-shot EPI with iPAT and fat suppression has produced very satisfactory body diffusion results. DWI can significantly reduce the need for intravenous administration of contrast medium in evaluation of malignancies. Key Words: DW MRI liver; focal liver lesions; ADC of focal liver lesions