The role of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in the classification of hepatic hydatid cysts

The aim of the study was to classify different types of hepatic hydatid cysts (HHCs) by measuring the mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI).This prospective study comprised 44 patients. The 44 HHCs were classified using Gharbi ultrasonographic classification (GUC) and then T2WIs and DWIs were obtained. The ADC values were measured of the hydatid cyst (HC) subtypes. The distribution of the ADC values in the cyst groups was compared using the Kruskal–Wallis test for multi groups and the Mann–Whitney U test for paired groups. To evaluate the efficacy of ADC values in cyst diagnosis, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed.According to the GUC, there were 15 type 1, 11 type 2, 7 type 3, 5 type 4 and 6 type 5 HHCs. According to the ADC values in the paired comparisons, while types 1, 2 and 5 HCs were statistically differentiated from all other groups except the type 3 group, the type 4 group was differentiated from all other groups and the type 3 group was only differentiated from the type 4 group. When two groups were formed from the HHC subtypes with types 1, 2, and 3 in one group and types 4 and 5 in the other, a statistically significant difference was determined in the mean ADC values of these new groups.In conclusion the measurement of ADC values can be considered a promising parameter as an alternative to ultrasonography in the determination of subtypes of HHCs.