Apparent diffusion coefficient analysis of solid tissue helps distinguish borderline from invasive malignant adnexal masses rated O-RADS MRI 4

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the contribution of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) analysis of the solid tissue of adnexal masses to optimize tumor characterization and possibly refine the risk stratification of the O-RADS MRI 4 category.

Materials and methods

The EURAD cohort was retrospectively analyzed to select all patients with an adnexal mass with solid tissue and feasible ADC measurements. Two radiologists independently measured the ADC values of solid tissue, excluding necrotic areas, surrounding structures, and magnetic susceptibility artifacts. Significant differences in diffusion quantitative parameters in the overall population and according to the morphological aspect of solid tissue were analyzed to identify its impact on ADC reliability. Receiver operating characteristics curve (ROC) was used to determine the optimum cutoff of the ADC for distinguishing invasive from non-invasive tumors in the O-RADS MRI score 4 population.

Results

The final study population included 180 women with a mean age of 57 ± 15.5 (standard deviation) years; age range: 19–95 years) with 93 benign, 23 borderline, and 137 malignant masses. The median ADC values of solid tissue was greater in borderline masses (1.310 × 10⁻³ mm²/s (Q1, Q3: 1.152, 1.560 × 10⁻³ mm²/s) than in benign masses (1.035 × 10⁻³ mm²/s; Q1, Q3: 0.900, 1.560 × 10⁻³ mm²/s) (P = 0.002) and in benign tumors compared by comparison with invasive masses (0.850 × 10⁻³ mm²/s; Q1, Q3: 0.750, 0.990 × 10⁻³ mm²/s) (P < 0.001). Solid tissue corresponded to irregular septa or papillary projection in 18.6% (47/253), to a mural nodule or a mixed mass in 46.2% (117/253), and to a purely solid mass in 35.2% (89/253) of adnexal masses. In mixed masses or masses with mural nodule subgroup, invasive masses had a significantly lower ADC (0.830 × 10⁻³ mm²/s (Q1, Q3: 0.738, 0.960) than borderline (1.385; Q1, Q3: 1.300, 1.930) (P = 0.0012) and benign masses (P = 0.04). An ADC cutoff of 1.08 × 10⁻³ mm²/s yielded 71.4% sensitivity and 100% specificity for identifying invasive lesions in the mixed or mural nodule subgroup with an AUC of 0.92 (95% confidence interval: 0.76–0.99).

Conclusion

ADC analysis of solid tissue of adnexal masses could help distinguish invasive masses within the O-RADS MRI 4 category, especially in mixed masses or those with mural nodule.