This study aims to detect early changes of kidney in patients with primary hypertension by 3.0 T functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). 26 patients with primary hypertension (hypertension group) and 33 healthy volunteers (control group) underwent conventional and functional magnetic resonance scans, which included blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) MRI, diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). We measured renal cortical thickness (CT), parenchymal thickness (PT), and functional values of renal cortex and medulla including R2* value, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value and fractional anisotropy (FA) value in each group, and then calculated the cortical/parenchymal thickness ratio (CPR). Compared with those in the control group, CT and CPR in hypertension group were larger (P<0.01), cortical and medullar R2* values increased (P<0.01) whereas medullar FA values decreased (P<0.05). It could be well concluded that noninvasive 3.0 T functional MRI would have important clinical significance in identifying early abnormalities of kidney in hypertension patients.
ObjectiveTo explore the value of magnetic resonance diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) in preoperative Bismuth-Corlette classification of hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA). MethodsA total of 53 HCCA patients confirmed by postoperative pathology were retrospectively included. The accuracy of two sequence combinations, namely dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) + magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and DCE-MRI + MRCP + DWI, in evaluating the longitudinally involved bile duct segments and Bismuth-Corlette classification of HCCA was compared. Additionally, the correlation between apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values and tumor Bismuth-Corlette classification as well as degree of differentiation was analyzed. ResultsThere were 318 bile duct segments in 53 HCCA patients. The accuracy rate of DCE-MRI + MRCP was 93.7% (298/318), the sensitivity was 91.5% (161/176), and the specificity was 96.5% (137/142). The accuracy rate of DCE-MRI + MRCP + DWI was 96.5% (307/318), the sensitivity was 96.0% (169/176), and the specificity was 97.2% (138/142). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of DCE-MRI + MRCP + DWI was 0.966 [95%CI (0.940, 0.983), P＜0.001], and its diagnostic efficacy was superior to that of DCE-MRI + MRCP [AUC=0.940, 95%CI (0.908, 0.963), P＜0.001]. The DeLong test indicated a statistically significant difference in AUC between the two sequences (Z=2.633, P＜0.01). The accuracy rates of preoperative Bismuth-Corlette classification of HCCA evaluated by DCE-MRI + MRCP and DCE-MRI + MRCP + DWI were 86.8% (46/53) and 94.3% (50/53), respectively. After adding the DWI sequence, the consistency between Bismuth-Corlette classification results and surgical pathological classification results (Kappa=0.922, P<0.001) was higher than that of DCE-MRI + MRCP sequence (Kappa=0.820, P<0.001), with a statistically significant difference (χ2=160.370, P<0.001). In addition, the ADC value of HCCA was negatively correlated with tumordegree of differentiation (rs=–0.524, P<0.001), but had no significant correlation with its Bismuth-Corlette classification (rs=–0.058, P=0.682). ConclusionsDCE-MRI + MRCP + DWI sequence can effectively improve the accuracy in preoperative evaluation of the involvement of bile duct segments and Bismuth-Corlette classification of HCCA, which provides guidance for precise preoperative surgical planning in clinical practice. In addition, the ADC value can provide additional information required for non-invasive preoperative prediction of the prognosis of HCCA patients.
ObjectiveTo investigate the value of diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) combined with three-dimensional volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination (3D-VIBE) in evaluating metastatic lymph nodes secondary to hilar cholangiocarcinoma. MethodsFrom July 2009 to March 2011, DWI examination was performed in 37 patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma, which was compared with 3D-VIBE sequences. The morphological characteristics and distribution were analyzed for metastatic and nonmetastatic lymph nodes. Signal intensity (SI) was measured on DWI images and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was calculated for each lymph node. The SI of lymph nodes (SILN） and liver (SIliver) were also measured and the ratio of SI was calculated. The ADC and the ratio of SI were compared between metastatic and nonmetastatic lymph nodes. ResultsThere were fifty-nine groups of lymph nodes in 37 patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma, fifty-one groups were revealed in both DWI and 3D-VIBE sequences, and eight groups were only demonstrated in one sequence (P=0.070). The short diameters were (1.05±0.42) cm and (0.78±0.22) cm on 3D-VIBE images for metastatic and nonmetastatic lymph nodes, respectively (P=0.030). The ADC value in metastatic lymph nodes was (1.64±0.3)×10-3 mm2/s, which was significantly lower than that in nonmetastatic lymph nodes 〔(2.28±0.79)×10-3 mm2/s〕 on DWI images (P=0.033). There were no significant differences in SILN/SIliver between metastatic and nonmetastatic lymph nodes on images of portal venous phase and 3 min delayed contrast-enhanced phase. ConclusionsDifferences of ADC and short diameter can provide valuable information to differentiate metastatic lymph nodes with nonmetastatic lymph nodes. When combined with 3D-VIBE sequence, DWI is more effective in evaluating metastatic lymph nodes secondary to hilar cholangiocarcinoma.
Objective To summarize the principle and application of functional MR imaging of pancreatic carcinoma and chronic mass-forming type pancreatitis. Methods Articles about diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), magnetic resonance spectrum imaging (MRSI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging of pancreatic carcinoma and chronic pancreatitis were reviewed and analyzed. Results Functional MR imaging could reflected the differences in molecules diffusion, metabolism and tissue perfusion between pancreatic carcinoma and chronic pancreatitis. Conclusion As a non-invasive protocol, functional MR imaging can provide useful information in differential diagnosis between chronic mass-forming type pancreatitis and pancreatic carcinoma.
Objective To evaluate the role of apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) in assesment of response to chemotherapy in patients with gastrointestinal liver metastasis. MethodsTen patients with liver metastasis （8 from colorectal cancer， 1 from gastric cancer， 1 from esophageal cancer） at Peking University People’s Hospital from April 2006 to April 2007 were included. All of them received chemotherapy （FOLFOX6： 4 cases， XELOX： 3 cases, and FOLFIRI： 1 case in 8 cases of colorectal liver metastases; ECF: 1 case of gastric liver metastases; DCF: 1 case of esophageal liver metastasis）. ADC were calculated after MR duffusionweight imaging exmination (GE MEDICAL SYSTEMS HD EXCITE 1.5 T) 1 month pre-and post-chemotherapy, respectively. Tumour response to chemotherapy was assessed by RECIST criteria. ResultsTumors with low pretreatment ADC (lt;9.04×10－4 mm2/s) responded better to chemotherapy than that with high ADC (gt;9.04×10－4 mm2/s); pretreatment ADC of cases (6/10) were remarkable lower than those of cases (4/10)， P＝0.033. Increased ADC after onemonth chemotherapy in patients with liver metastasis predicted a better response. ConclusionsLow pretreatment ADC is predictive of better response to chemotherapy. An increased ADC after treatment predicts a better response to chemotherapy.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the values of diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) sequence in the diagnosis of node metastases in breast cancer by meta-analysis. MethodsThe articles concerning the diagnosis of node metastases by using DWI until September 2016 were searched in databases including The Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, CBM, VIP, WanFang Data and CNKI. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of included studies by using the QUADAS-2 (Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2) tool. Then, meta-analysis was performed by using Stata 12.0 software. The pooled weighted sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) were calculated, the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (SROC) was drawn and the area under the curve was calculated. ResultsA total of 21 articles were included, involving 25 studies. The results of meta-analysis showed that, the pooled sensitivity, specificity, DOR and area under SROC curve of DWI for diagnosing node metastases were 0.85 (95%CI 0.80 to 0.89), 0.83 (95%CI 0.78 to 0.87), 4.99 (95%CI 3.74 to 6.67), 0.18 (95%CI 0.13 to 0.24), 3.32 (95%CI 2.82 to 3.82), and 0.91 (95%CI 0.88 to 0.93), respectively. The results of subgroup analysis showed that DWI had better Spe in b value=750-1 000 than b value=400-600; The 1.5T DWI had better Sen and Spe in diagnosing node metastases compared with 1.5T DWI. ConclusionDWI has more diagnostic efficiency for assessing lymph node metastases, especially in b value=750-1 000 and 1.5T field MR syetem. Due to limited quantity and quality of the included studies, more high-quality studies are required to verify the above conclusion.