Application of ADC measurement in characterization of renal cell carcinomas with different pathological types and grades by 3.0 T diffusion-weighted MRI

Abstract Purpose To test the feasibility of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value obtained with 3.0 T diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the characterization of renal cell carcinomas (RCC) with different pathological subtypes and grades. Materials and methods A total of 137 patients who were diagnosed with RCC and underwent DWI were included in this study. The diagnosis was confirmed by pathological examination of surgical specimens. Images of DWI were obtained with b values of 0 and 800 s/mm 2 . The ADC values in the solid area of tumors and in the corresponding regions of contralateral normal renal parenchyma were measured and analyzed statistically. Results The mean ADC value was significantly lower in RCC (1.381 ± 0.444 × 10 −3  mm 2 /s) than in normal renal parenchyma (2.232 ± 0.221 × 10 −3  mm 2 /s) ( P vs II and grade III vs IV. Conclusion ADC measurement on 3.0 T DWI provides useful information in diagnostic work-up of RCC in terms of differentiation of RCC and normal renal parenchyma, and characterization of RCC with different pathological subtypes and grades.