DIAGNOSTIC UTILITY OF DIFFUSION-WEIGHTED MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING AND APPARENT DIFFUSION COEFFICIENT VALUES IN THE EVALUATION OF FOCAL HEPATIC LESIONS: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Background: Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) has emerged as a valuable imaging modality in oncologic diagnostics by leveraging differences in the diffusion of water molecules across tissue compartments. Apparent diffusion coefcient (ADC) values derived from DW-MRI offer a quantitative approach to lesion characterization. Objectives: To evaluate the role of ADC values on DW-MRI in differentiating benign from malignant liver lesions and to assess their diagnostic performance in terms of sensitivity, specicity, and accuracy. Materials And Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted over 18 months at Sarvodaya Hospital and Research Centre, Faridabad, including 50 patients with hepatic lesions identied through imaging or biopsy. All participants underwent MRI with diffusion-weighted sequences on a 1.5T system. ADC values were quantitatively assessed for each lesion. Data were analyzed using standard statistical tests, and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to determine diagnostic performance. Results: The mean ADC value for malignant lesions was signicantly lower (0.738 ± 0.051 ×10⁻³ mm²/s) compared to benign lesions (1.98 ± 1.163 ×10⁻³ mm²/s, p < 0.001). All malignant lesions exhibited hyperintensity on DWI and restricted diffusion. ROC analysis yielded an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.795, with an optimal ADC cut-off value of 1.085 ×10⁻³ mm²/s, achieving 100% sensitivity, 75% specicity, and 92.0% overall diagnostic accuracy. Conclusion: ADC values obtained through DW-MRI offer a reliable, non-invasive imaging biomarker for differentiating benign from malignant liver lesions. Integration of ADC analysis into standard imaging protocols can enhance diagnostic accuracy, minimize unnecessary invasive procedures, and support clinical decision-making in the management of hepatic tumors.