Feasibility of quantitative diffusion weighted MR imaging with calculated apparent diffusion coefficients in characterization of pediatric head and neck masses

Purpose: Assessing DW MR imaging and ADC value in pediatric head and neck lesions and ability of determination benign from malignant masses. Methods: Study was undertaken on 56 patients as 39:17, male: female, respectively where they had head or neck mass. Patients exposed to routine MRI to characterize lesions. Diffusion weighted imaging sequence was added to routine MR and evaluation of DWIs. Results: We found that ± ADC of malignant, benign lesions as0.64 X 10-3, 1.58 X 10-3, and 2.10 X 10-3 mm2 /sec. ADC of 1.25 X 10-3 mm2 /sec threshold value was used to differentiating among tumors which were represented 100% and 94.1% for sensitivity and specificity, respectively. Conclusion: Beneficial roles for DW imaging to discriminate between malignant and benign head and neck tumors.