Table 2 Qualitative (Visual) assessment of DW images: signal intensities seen in the high b value images and corresponding ADC maps [7, 8]
From: Role of diffusion weighted MR-imaging in the evaluation of malignant mediastinal lesions
| Â | High b value (DWI) | ADC map |
|---|---|---|
Facilitated diffusion (e.g. benign cyst) |
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Restricted diffusion (e.g. malignant tumor) |
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Pitfalls of DWI | ||
T2 – Shine through effect E.g. a cyst will demonstrate high signal intensity on T2-weighted images and on diffusion images obtained at high b values but also on the ADC map. Unlike a cyst, a region with truly restricted diffusion will demonstrate low signal intensity on the ADC map. |
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Slow-flowing blood within a region may demonstrate the signal intensity characteristics of a highly cellular lesion. This pitfall is readily observed on DWI of a hemangioma. In this situation, interpretation of the findings obtained with other MR sequences is very helpful. | ||
