72 patients (29 FNH, 43HCC) were examined prospectively using two 1.5 T-MRI scanners (Aera/MagnetomAvanto, Siemens, Germany).
Quantitative analysis of IVIM-derived parameters and ADC800-values was performed independently by two radiologists. The concordance between the reviewers was tested using a Pearson-/Spearman-correlation. The mean values for significant differences between FNHs and HCCs and between the two MR scanners were compared using a two-tailed t-test/Mann-Whitney-U test. An ROC analysis assessing the diagnostic performance of the parameters was performed.
The concordance between the two f-, D- and D*-measurements were r = 0.81, 0.81 and 0.84, and r = 0.58 for ADC-values. D-values and ADC800-values were significantly lower in HCC compared to FNH (p < 0.001), there was no significant difference for f and D*. D had the largest AUC (0.76) for the differentiation between the two entities. Most parameters were not significantly different between the two MRIs.
IVIM-derived D and ADC are comparable for the differentiation between HCC and FNH. Since ADC-measurement means less effort than IVIM, ADC should be used for the differentiation between the two entities. Furthermore, quantitative results obtained from different scanners match closely.