Are ADC values of readout-segmented echo-planar diffusion-weighted imaging (RESOLVE) correlated with pathological prognostic factors in rectal adenocarcinoma?

Background Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values as imaging biomarkers of rectal cancer are currently a hot research spot. The use of ADC values for preoperative judgment of pathological features in rectal cancer has been generally accepted. The image quality evaluation of conventional diffusion is severe deformation, and the measurement of ADC values can easily lead to bias. Readout-segmented echo-planar diffusion-weighted imaging (RESOLVE) provides high signal-to-noise ratio images and significantly reduces distortions caused by magnetosensitive effects. The purpose of this study was to explore the correlations between ADC values of RESOLVE and pathological prognostic factors in rectal adenocarcinoma. Methods We collected pathological data of 89 patients with pathologically confirmed rectal adenocarcinoma who directly underwent surgical resection without receiving adjuvant therapy. The patients were grouped according to the pathologic type, gross classification, degree of differentiation, TN stage, and immunohistochemical expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Results RESOLVE ADC values of rectal cancer were measured at b = 800, and correlations between the RESOLVE ADC values obtained in different groups were analysed. We found that RESOLVE ADC values in the ulcer-type group were significantly higher than those in the eminence-type group. Conclusion RESOLVE ADC values in different pathologic types of rectal cancer were significantly different. RESOLVE ADC values in the EGFR-positive group were significantly lower than those in the EGFR-negative group. There was no significant difference in RESOLVE ADC values between different degrees of pathologic differentiation, TN stages, and positive or negative lymph nodes. The quantitative description of RESOLVE ADC values could be used to assess the biological behaviour of rectal adenocarcinoma.