Differentiation between benign and malignant breast lesions using quantitative diffusion-weighted sequence on 3 T MRI

Accuracy of combined dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging for breast cancer detection: a meta-analysis

“…Increasing numbers of studies are evaluating the utility of combined DCE-MRI with DWI and its clinical application (17)(18)(19)(20). Both of these tools have advanced to the point where they provide quantitative measurements of tissue properties that are highly related to the assessment of tumor progression.…”

Quantitative Radiology

“…Costantini et al found ADC values to be associated with tumor grade for breast cancer patients, with high-grade tumors manifesting lower ADC values (i.e., relatively restricted diffusion) (Costantini et al, 2010). Although Tan et al did not find ADC values to be associated with breast-tumor characteristics such as size or receptor status, they found DWI to be accurate in distinguishing benign from malignant breast tumors (Tan et al, 2014). Pickles et al used MR to examine 10 patients both prior to and after the first and second chemotherapy cycles, recording tumor diameters and ADC values; mean ADC demonstrated a stronger and earlier association with response to therapy than did tumor diameter (Pickles, Gibbs, Lowry, & Turnbull, 2006).…”

Role of exponential apparent diffusion coefficient in characterizing breast lesions by 3.0 Tesla diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging

“…[1] Though dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) has high sensitivity, its relative low specificity and low positive predictive value in distinguishing malignant and benign breast lesions causes unnecessary biopsies. [2] Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is a noncontrast, functional MRI sequence that has shown promise in increasing DCE-MRI specificity.…”