High-b-Value Diffusion-weighted MR Imaging of Benign Hepatocellular Lesions: Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis

PURPOSE:To analyze the signal intensity (SI) of benign hepatocellular lesions in high-b-value diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance (MR) images and to compare the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of focal nodular hyperplasias (FNHs) with those of hepatocellular adenomas (HCAs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was approved by institutional review board, with waiver of informed consent. Inclusion criteria were consecutive patients with diagnosed FNH or HCA who underwent MR imaging with a DW sequence of the liver at three b values, 0, 150, and 600 sec/mm2. The final study population included 67 patients (seven men, 60 women) with 90 hepatocellular lesions (54 FN…