The feasibility of b-value maps based on threshold DWI for detection of breast cancer: A case–control STROBE compliant study

Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) plays an important role in the diagnosis of breast cancer as well as the evaluation of treatment effects. A novel technique named b-value map based on thresholded DWI images has been proposed and can achieve good contrast for demonstrating prostate lesions only by manipulating the window width and center of the images. Its application on the breast has not yet explored, so the aim of the study was to investigate the feasibility of b-value maps based on threshold DWI for detection of breast cancer. A total of 25 patients with pathologically proven invasive ductal breast carcinoma were included and underwent preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations including DWI at 3T. The capabilities to display lesions of DWI(b=800), b-value maps and optimal computed DWI (cDWI) images were evaluated by using a 4-point method of scoring. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of lesions were measured for the breast carcinoma. Mean scores indicating the display capability were compared among DWI(b=800), optimal cDWI and b-value maps by using Kruskal–Wallis test followed by Nemenyi test. The scores of both b-value maps (3.92 ± 0.28) and optimal cDWI images (3.80 ± 0.41) were higher than that of DWI(b=800) (3.48 ± 0.51), with statistical differences (P = .001 and P = .033, respectively). The optimal b values for manifesting breast carcinoma based on cDWI were 1000 to 1200 s/mm(2). The b-value map enables fast identification for breast lesions and shows similar performance to the optimal cDWI images.