PURPOSE Differential diagnosis between central neurocytoma and ependymoma is very important for making preoperative scheme. We explored the application of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) combined with apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in differential diagnosis between both. METHODS The data of preoperative MR plain and contrast-enhanced scan, DWI and ADC values of neoplastic solid parts from 18 cases with central neurocytoma and 19 cases with lateral ventricular ependymoma, were retrospectively analyzed. Mann-Whitney test was used for the comparison of ADC values between central neurocytoma and ependymoma. The application of ADC values in the differential diagnosis between central neurocytoma and ependymoma was evaluated by ROC curve. RESULTS The lesions showed hyperintensity-dominant mixed signal intensity on DWI and mean ADC was (0.65 ± 0.13) × 10-3 mm2/s in the 18 cases with central neurocytoma. In the 19 cases with ependymoma, 13 had hyperintensity-dominant mixed signal intensity on DWI and 6 had hypointensity-dominant mixed signal intensity on DWI, and mean ADC was (1.20 ± 0.23) × 10-3 mm2/s. The mean ADC value was significantly higher in the 19 cases with ependymoma than in the 18 cases with central neurocytoma (P < 0.001). The ADC of 0.87 × 10-3 mm2/s might be used as a threshold for differential diagnosis between central neurocytoma and ependymoma with an area under ROC curve of 0.98 ± 0.02 and a 95% confidence interval of 0.95-1.00. Its sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 90%, 100%, and 90%, respectively. CONCLUSION There is a certain overlap in MRI imaging features between central neurocytoma and ependymoma. DWI combined with ADC value can improve peoperative diagnostic accuracy.

中文翻译：

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弥散加权成像结合表观弥散系数在中枢神经细胞瘤与室管膜瘤鉴别诊断中的应用。

目的中枢神经细胞瘤与室管膜瘤的鉴别诊断对于制定术前计划非常重要。我们探讨了弥散加权成像（DWI）结合表观弥散系数（ADC）在两者之间的鉴别诊断中的应用。方法回顾性分析18例中枢神经细胞瘤和19例侧脑室室间隔膜瘤的术前MR平扫和增强扫描，DWI和ADC值。使用Mann-Whitney检验比较中枢神经细胞瘤和室管膜瘤之间的ADC值。通过ROC曲线评估ADC值在中枢神经细胞瘤与室间隔膜瘤鉴别诊断中的应用。结果病变在DWI上表现出高强度为主的混合信号强度，平均ADC为（0.65±0。13）中枢神经细胞瘤18例×10-3 mm2 / s。在19例室间隔膜瘤中，有13例在DWI上呈高强度为主的混合信号强度，有6例在DWI上以低强度为主的混合信号强度，平均ADC为（1.20±0.23）×10-3 mm2 / s。19例室间隔膜瘤的ADC均值显着高于18例中枢神经细胞瘤的患者（P <0.001）。ADC的0.87×10-3 mm2 / s可以用作鉴别诊断中枢神经细胞瘤和室管膜瘤的阈值，ROC曲线下面积为0.98±0.02，95％置信区间为0.95-1.00。其灵敏度，特异性和准确性分别为90％，100％和90％。结论中枢神经细胞瘤和室管膜瘤的MRI影像学特征存在一定的重叠。