Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of lung cancer at 3.0 T: a preliminary study on monitoring diffusion changes during chemoradiation therapy

Clin Imaging. 2012 Mar-Apr;36(2):98-103. doi: 10.1016/j.clinimag.2011.07.002.

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to prospectively monitor changes of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in perichemoradiation for lung cancer.

Methods: Fourteen patients with lung cancer who underwent chemoradiation therapy were included. Diffusion-weighted (DW) images were obtained prior to and during chemoradiation therapy, and ADCs were compared.

Results: Seven patients had qualified DW images before and during chemoradiation. Six responders had significant increase in ADC value during the chemoradiation compared with the pretreatment value (P=.028), while one nonresponder had a slight decrease.

Conclusion: These preliminary results show the potential of DW imaging in monitoring early response to chemoradiation in patients with lung cancer.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Biopsy, Needle
  • Bronchoscopy / methods
  • Chemoradiotherapy / methods*
  • Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Lung Neoplasms / mortality
  • Lung Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Monitoring, Physiologic / methods*
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / pathology
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Survival Analysis
  • Treatment Outcome