A comparative study of four diffusion-weighted imaging models in the diagnosis of cervical cancer

Background Most commonly used diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) models include intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM), diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI), stretched exponential model (SEM), and mono-exponential model (MEM). Previous studies of the four models were inconsistent on which model was more effective in distinguishing cervical cancer from normal cervical tissue. Purpose To assess the performance of four DWI models in characterizing cervical cancer and normal cervical tissue. Material and Methods Forty-seven women with suspected cervical carcinoma underwent DWI using eight b-values before treatment. Imaging parameters, calculated using IVIM, SEM, DKI, and MEM, were compared between cervical cancer and normal cervical tissue. The diagnostic performance of the models was evaluated using independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results All parameters except pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D*) differed significantly between cervical cancer and normal cervical tissue (P < 0.001). Through logistic regression analysis, all combined models showed a significant improvement in area under the ROC curve (AUC) compared to individual DWI parameters. The model with combined IVIM parameters had a larger AUC value compared to those of other combined models (P < 0.05). Conclusion All four DWI models are useful for differentiating cervical cancer from normal cervical tissue and IVIM may be the optimal model.