[Assessment of normal and abnormal tongue tissues with MR diffusion-weighted imaging].

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the MR-DWI findings of the normal and abnormal tongue tissues, and to determine the potential role of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value obtained from different b values in the accurately diagnosing lesions arising from the tongue. METHODS: MR-DWI was performed in 15 healthy volunteers and 79 patients with tongue lesions, respectively. All the tongue lesions were pathologically proved (19 benign lesions and 60 malignant tumors). Two ADC values from b values (500 and 1000 s/mm²) in the 15 volunteers and 79 lesions were used for comparison. The diversities of ADC values between the normal and abnormal tongues, and the benign lesions and malignant tumors of tongues were statistically analyzed. The data was subjected to SPSS10.0 software package for t test. RESULTS: (1)There was significant difference between the volunteer's tongue and the abnormal tongues(P<0.01), and between the benign lesions and the malignant tumors of tongues (P<0.05). (2)The mean ADC value of the benign lesions of tongues was significantly higher than that of the surrounding tongue tissues and volunteer's tongues (P<0.05). (3)The mean ADC value of the malignant tumors of tongues was higher than that of the volunteer's tongues, but no difference was found between the malignant tumors and its surrounding tongue tissues. CONCLUSION: MR-DWI might be considered as a valuable imaging index for the discrimination of normal tongue from abnormal tongue.