Magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging and computed tomography in the diagnosis of hemangioma and venous malformations of head and neck among children

Objective: To compare the diagnostic value between magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging (MRDWI) and computed tomography (CT) for hemangioma and venous malformations of head and neck among children. Methods: A total of 55 subjects were systematically recruited into this study, including 25 cases diagnosed with hemangioma and 30 cases with venous malformation. Diagnostic test was applied to evaluate accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of MR-DWI and CT in hemangioma and venous malformation, and Kappa test was further performed; independent sample t-test was adopted to compare ADC values between two groups. And receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn for the optimal threshold in identification. Results: MR-DWI had higher sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive values than CT in diagnosing hemangioma and venous malformation. Both methods corresponded to clinicopathological analysis, and MR-DWI (K = 0.781) had significantly higher matching coefficient than CT (K = 0.566). When b = 500 s/mm2, ADC value of venous malformation group was significantly higher than that of hemangioma group (P < 0.05); area under the ROC curve (AUC) diagnosed by MR-DWI was 0.924, and threshold was ADC = 1.615 × 10-3 mm2/s, with sensitivity and specificity of 84.00% and 86.70%, respectively. When b = 1000 s/mm2, similar pattern of ADC values in both groups was observed; AUC was 0.924, and threshold was ADC = 0.894 × 10-3 mm2/s, showing sensitivity and specificity of 76.0% and 67.0%, respectively, which were lower compared with values obtained when b = 500 s/mm2. Conclusion: MR-DWI had higher sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive values, and matching coefficient than CT for hemangioma and venous malformation diagnosis.