Role of apparent diffusion coefficient values and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in differentiation between benign and malignant thyroid nodules

(A) A 35-year-old woman with multi nodular goiter. Calculation of ADC from thyroid nodules on ADC maps. (B) Calculation of signal intensity on DW images. ADC map (A) and DW image (B) shows calculation of ADC value and signal intensity of thyroid nodules in 35-year-old woman with multinodular goiter, respectively.

(A) A 44-year-old woman with goiter. Hyperintense signal in nodular lesion on isthmus of thyroid gland on DW images. (B) Diffusion restriction is seen on ADC maps with an ADC value of 0.49×10^–3 mm²/s. Nodule was diagnosed malignant by biopsy and surgery.

(A) A 50-year-old female patient with complaints of hoarseness and having enlarged thyroid glands, rightward trachea deviation, obstruction on left jugular vein on T1 weighted images. (B) A heterogeneous mass lesion having lobular contour on coronal T2 images causes tracheal pressure. (C) Mass lesion is hyperintense on DW images. (D) Mean ADC values are measured 1.1×10^–3 mm²/s on ADC map. FNAB of the nodule was diagnosed as medullary thyroid cancer.