Utility of Diffusion-weighted Images in Bone Tumors.

In this study, we report the diagnostic utility of diffusion-weighted MR images in primary bone tumors. Diffusion-weighted echo-planar imaging was performed on thirty two patients with primary bone tumors. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was determined from each image. The average ADC of six bone cyst cases was 2.51±0.36; it was 1.74±0.54 for fourteen cases with solid benign bone tumors. In addition, with the exception of four chondrosarcoma cases, ADC of the malignant bone tumors (eight cases) was 0.89±0.11. The value of malignant bone tumor ADC was significantly lower than that of the bone cyst group or the benign solid bone tumor group (p<0.0001). This indicates that diffusion-weighted imaging is useful in the differential diagnosis of primary malignant bone tumors and benign bone tumors.