RESUMO
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the value of biochemical profile of cyst fluid and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in differentiating hepatic hydatid cysts (HCs) from liver simple cysts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-six patients underwent MR imaging. Twenty-nine patients had 29 hydatid cysts and 17 patients had liver simple cysts. Thirteen patients with hydatid cysts and seven patients with liver simple cysts were evaluated with cyst fluid biochemical analysis. The concentration of glucose, protein, calcium ion (Ca2+ ) electrolyte, macroscopic appearance, and parasitological sediment were evaluated in this study. RESULTS: In the respect of biochemical analysis cyst fluid, the concentration of glucose and calcium ion of HCs was significantly higher than that of the liver simple cysts. In the respect of DWI, in the b 1000 s/mm2 value in respect of mean application data center (ADC) values, there was a statistically significant difference between HCs group (the mean value was (2.50±0.79)×10-3 mm/s2 ) and liver simple cysts group (the mean value was (2.92±0.66)×10-3 mm/s2 ). However, no statistically significant results were obtained in the ADC measurements of b 500 s/mm2 between two groups. CONCLUSION: The analysis of cyst fluid combined with the measurement of ADC values in the b 1000 s/mm2 value could be considered a promising parameter as an alternative to the differential diagnosis of hepatic hydatid cysts from liver simple cysts.