Evaluating IVIM and ADC Parameters to Differentiate Benign and Malignant Soft-Tissue Lesions

Motivation: Patients with soft-tissue lesions often undergo biopsies to confirm diagnosis, as distinguishing benign from malignant ones with MRI is challenging. Intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) may increase the discriminatory power of MRI, which could reduce the number of biopsies leading to improved patient experience and efficiency for healthcare providers. Goal(s): Differentiate malignant from benign soft-tissue lesions using diffusion weighted imaging (DWI)-derived parameters including IVIM. Approach: Research-specific DWI scans were analysed using mono-exponential and IVIM fitting techniques. Parameters measured in lesions were compared between benign and malignant cases. Results: Some IVIM-derived parameters demonstrated discriminatory potential, supporting further exploration and validation in a larger study. Impact: This work uses quantitative MRI to differentiate benign from malignant soft-tissue lesions, aiming to reduce the need for soft-tissue biopsies. This could reduce the number of invasive procedures patients undergo and provide diagnoses faster, reducing patient anxiety, pain and discomfort.