Comparison of Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging and T2- Weighted Imaging in Focal Liver Lesions

Abstract

Background: A wide range of benign and malignant illnesses can cause focal liver lesions, all of which need precise imaging in order to be diagnosed and treated. Compared to other modalities, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers better soft tissue contrast and functional information, making it a crucial tool in liver imaging. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic performance of T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) in the evaluation of localised liver lesions. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted, involving 90 patients with focal liver lesions. Inclusion criteria included patients aged 18 years and above with at least one focal liver lesion detected on preliminary imaging. Data collection involved standardized MRI protocols, with images analyzed independently by two radiologists. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 23.0. Results: The study demonstrated that DW-MRI had higher sensitivity (92.2%) and specificity (88.9%) compared to T2WI (86.7% and 84.4%, respectively). The PPV and NPV were also superior for DW-MRI (90.6% and 90.8%) compared to T2WI (85.7% and 85.5%). Inter-observer agreement was higher for DW-MRI (κ=0.87) than for T2WI (κ=0.81). The McNemar test confirmed the superior diagnostic accuracy of DW-MRI over T2WI (p=0.03). DW-MRI was more effective in distinguishing benign from malignant lesions, with an accuracy of 93.3% for benign lesions and 91.7% for malignant ones, compared to T2WI’s 86.7% and 83.3%. Conclusion: When it came to the characterisation of focal liver lesions, DW-MRI performed better than T2WI, providing improved inter-observer agreement and higher diagnostic accuracy. According to these results, the best imaging technique for assessing focal liver lesions is DW-MRI. Recommendations: DW-MRI should be integrated into routine clinical practice for the assessment of focal liver lesions, and further studies are recommended to explore its application in larger and more diverse patient populations.