Tae Jin Yun MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Ji-Hoon Kim MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Seung Hong Choi, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Chul-Ho Sohn MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Kee Hyun Chang MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ji Yeon Jang, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Yoo-Jeong Yim, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To depict the diagnostic performance of absolute and relative apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in differentiating lymphomas from squamous cell carcinomas in the head and neck region, and to evaluate whether relative ADC values can improve the diagnostic performance in differentiating lymphomas from squamous cell carcinomas.

This retrospective study included 11 patients with lymphoma and 53 patients with squamous cell carcinoma in the head and neck region. They underwent 1.5 T diffusion weighted MR imagings with b value of 1000 s/mm2. Two ADC values were measured at the two regions of interest (ROIs) which were located in the lesion (ADClesion) and contralateral paravertebral muscle (ADCcontrol), respectively. Absolute ADC value was defined as ADClesion and relative ADC value was defined as follows; relative ADC = ADClesion / ADCcontrol. Absolute and relative ADC values between lymphomas and squamous cell carcinomas were compared using independent t-test and the diagnostic performances were compared using receiver operating characteristic curves analysis, with statistical significance level of .05.

The lymphomas and squamous cell carcinomas manifested with statistically different absolute ADC values; 0.70 ± 0.18 (10-3 mm2/s, mean ± standard deviation) vs. 1.00 ± 0.25, (p = .0011), and different relative ADC values; 0.55 ± 0.11 vs. 0.89 ± 0.21, (p < .0001). The relative ADC values had larger area under the curve than absolute ADC value for differentiating lymphomas from squamous cell carcinomas (0.929 and 0.842, p=.037).

Both absolute and relative ADC values are useful in differentiating lymphomas from squamous cell carcinomas in the head and neck region, with the better diagnostic performance using relative ADC value.

Diagnostic performance in differentiating lymphomas from squamous cell carcinomas in the head and neck can be improved using relative ADC value. ** This is a revision of Abstract ID 9015271**

Yun, T, Kim, J, Choi, S, Sohn, C, Chang, K, Jang, J, Yim, Y, Differentiation of Lymphoma from Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the Head and Neck: Diagnostic Performance Using Absolute and Relative Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Values.  Radiological Society of North America 2010 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2010 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2010/9016164.html