الفهرس 
INTRODUCTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is based on the irregular diffusion motion of water molecules and provides more detailed information at the cellular level than conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Conventional MRI studies cannot distinguish the etiological nature of the cystic lesion before management planning, as the conventional MRI is based on morphological information.
The differential diagnosis of various intracranial cystic lesions is sometimes difficult on the basis of CT or MRI findings. It includes for example; primary brain tumors (eg, necrotic gliomas), metastasis, and abscesses. Combination of DWI with ADC map and values added more information to MRI in the differentiation of intracranial cystic mass lesions.
Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging is an advanced MRI technique that provides the physiological nature of the disease based on motion of water molecules across cell membrane. Diffusion weighted imaging allows also assessment of the cellularity of the lesion non-invasively as cellular and subcellular elements significantly impede the mobility of water molecules, thus densely cellular lesions exhibit low ADC values. Also the nature of the contents of the cystic cavity with different properties of water diffusibility.
This study was conducted prospectively aiming to study the added value of diffusion MRI techniques in differentiating intracranial cystic lesions. Fifty patients referred with clinical data or previous CT imaging with suspected intracranial cystic lesion to the Radio-diagnosis Department of Alexandria University Hospitals. They were subjected to thorough history taking, full clinical and neurological examination, routine laboratory investigations, conventional MRI examination of the brain, and diffusion weighted MRI examination with ADC map and ADC value.
DWI is helpful in distinguishing between brain abscesses and necrotic and cystic neoplasms on MRI. This differentiation is still a challenge on both clinical and radiological setting. The early identification of the brain abscess is important because it is potentially fatal lesion which can be treated successfully by means of surgery and antibiotic therapy.
In the present study, fifty cases were included. Restricted diffusion was noted in nine abscesses with mean ADC values ± SD 0.73 ± 0.2