Added value of diffusion-weighted MR imaging to T2-weighted and dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging in T staging of gastric cancer

ObjectiveTo assess the utilization of diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in T staging of gastric cancer prospectively.MethodsFifty-one patients underwent T2-weighted (T2W), contrast-enhanced (CE) and DW MR imaging. Two radiologists independently interpreted the images for T staging of the tumors.ResultsThe overall accuracy of T staging in pT1-4 gastric cancers by T2W+CE+DW (88.2%) was significantly higher than that by T2W+CE and T2W+DW (both 76.5%, P= .031).ConclusionDW adds useful information to T2W and CE MR imaging in T staging of gastric cancer.