Differential Diagnosis of Malignant Biliary Tract Cancer from Benign Tissues using Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Measurements with Diffusion Weighted Imaging in Asians

Background: The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess the efficacy of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC)value of diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) for differentiating biliary tract cancer (BTC) from benign biliary tractdiseases in Asians. Materials and
Methods: We systematically searched Embase and PubMed prior to December2014. Eight studies conducted in Asians met our predetermined inclusion criteria.
Results: Our meta-analysisresults showed that ADC values in BTC tissues were significantly lower than in benign biliary tract tissues (SMD= -1.54, 95%CI: -1.75~-1.33, P<0.001). Subgroup analysis based on the MRI machine type showed that the ADCvalues were consistent, accurate and reliable in the diagnosis of BTC when comparing cancer tissue vs. benigntissue under the Siemens 1.5 T/3.0 T, Philips 1.5 T/3.0 T, GE 1.5 T, and Toshiba 1.5 T types, respectively (allP<0.05). Further, ADC values were still consistent and accurate in the differential diagnosis of BTC under theb value of 800 and 1000 s/mm2 (all P<0.05).
Conclusions: Our findings supported potential clinical applicationsof DWI ADC values in differentiating BTC from benign biliary tract diseases in Asians.