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Diffusion-weighted MRI in the evaluation of renal lesions: preliminary results

¹ Department of Radiology, University of Trieste, Ospedale di Cattinara, Strada di Fiume 447, 34149 Trieste and ² Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University of Roma "Tor Vergata", Viale Oxford 81, 00133 Roma, Italy

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the capability and the reliability of diffusion-weighted MRI in the evaluation of normal kidney and different renal lesions. 39 patients (10 normal volunteers and 29 patients with known renal lesions) underwent MRI of the kidneys by using a 1.5 T superconducting magnet. Axial fat suppressed turbo spin echo (TSE) T₂ and coronal fast field echo (FFE) T₁ or TSE T₁ weighted images were acquired for each patient. Diffusion-weighted (DW) images were obtained in the axial plane during breath-hold (17 s) with a spin-echo echo planar imaging (SE EPI) single shot sequence (repetition time (TR)=2883 ms, echo time (TE)=61 ms, flip angle=90°), with b value of 500 s mm^–2. 16 slices were produced with slice thickness of 7 mm and interslice gap of 1 mm. An apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map was obtained at each slice position. The ADC was measured in an approximately 1 cm region of interest (ROI) within the normal renal parenchyma, the detected renal lesions and the collecting system if dilated. ADC values in normal renal parenchyma ranged from 1.72 x 10^–3 mm² s^–1 to 2.65 x 10^–3 mm² s^–1, while ADC values in simple cysts (n=13) were higher (2.87 x 10^–3 mm² s^–1 to 4.00 x 10^–3 mm² s^–1). In hydronephrotic kidneys (n=6) the ADC values of renal pelvis ranged from 3.39 x 10^–3 mm² s^–1 to 4.00 x 10^–3 mm² s^–1. In cases of pyonephrosis (n=3) ADC values of the renal pelvis were found to be lower than those of renal pelvis of hydronephrotic kidneys (0.77 x 10^–3 mm² s^–1 to 1.07 x 10^–3 mm² s^–1). Solid benign and malignant renal tumours (n=7) showed ADC values ranging between 1.28 x 10^–3 mm² s^–1 and 1.83 x 10^–3 mm² s^–1. In conclusion diffusion-weighted MR imaging of the kidney seems to be a reliable way to differentiate normal renal parenchyma and different renal diseases. Clinical experience with this method is still preliminary and further studies are required.

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