Apparent diffusion coefficient values of normal testis and variations with age

Abstract

The usefulness of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) in the evaluation of scrotal pathology has recently been reported. A standard reference of normal testicular apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values and their variations with age is necessary when interpreting normal testicular anatomy and pathology. We evaluated 147 normal testes using DWI, including 71 testes from 53 men aged 20–39 years (group 1), 67 testes from 42 men aged 40–69 years (group 2) and nine testes from six men older than 70 years (group 3). DWI was performed along the axial plane, using a single shot, multislice spin-echo planar diffusion pulse sequence and b-values of 0 and 900 s mm−2. The mean and standard deviation of the ADC values of normal testicular parenchyma were calculated for each age group separately. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by post hoc analysis (Dunnett T3) was used for statistical purposes. The ADC values (× 10−3 mm2 s−1) of normal testicular tissue were different among age groups (group 1: 1.08 ± 0.13; group 2: 1.15 ± 0.15 and group 3: 1.31 ± 0.22). ANOVA revealed differences in mean ADC among age groups (F = 11.391, P < 0.001). Post hoc analysis showed differences between groups 1 and 2 (P = 0.008) and between groups 1 and 3 (P = 0.043), but not between groups 2 and 3 (P = 0.197). Our findings suggest that ADC values of normal testicular tissue increase with advancing age.

Magnetic resonance imaging for detection of non palpable undescended testes: Diagnostic accuracy of diffusion-weighted MRI in comparison with laparoscopic findings

“…DWI with evaluation of ADC has been shown to be an important diagnostic tool, providing quantitative information regarding structural tissue changes at a cellular level, which helps in tissue characterization (17).…”

“…Diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) has been established as a useful functional diagnostic tool in urogenital imaging (17). A few recently published reports have addressed the diagnostic performance of DWI in the evaluation of various scrotal pathologies such as detection and localization of impalpable testes, diagnosis of testicular torsion and differentiation between normal, benign and malignant scrotal contents (9,(18)(19)(20).…”

Role of diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging in a rat model of testicular torsion

“…We were unable to identify a clear threshold value owing to the small number of subjects. Tsili et al 24 examined 147 healthy testicles with DWI and they stated that reference mean ADC values of testicles were between 1.08 3 10 Maki et al 25 showed that DWI of the testicles with ADC measurement can allow for the detection of TT in patients without any use of contrast media. They used b-factors of 0 and 800 s mm 22 , as in our study.…”

Evaluation of Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Follow-up and Treatment Response Assessment of Lymphoma: Results of an 18F-FDG-PET/CT–Controlled Prospective Study in 64 Patients

“…The bone marrow was rated as positive when, in addition to diffusion restriction, it showed a lower signal than the adjacent skeletal muscle on the T1-weighted images. Other regions or structures with known high signal on DWI, such as ovaries, testes of younger patients, and bowel contents (28,29), were not regarded as pathologic. Where appropriate, lesion diameters were measured on the T1-weighted images.…”