Accuracy of turbo spin-echo diffusion-weighted imaging signal intensity measurements for the diagnosis of cholesteatoma

PURPOSE We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of turbo spin-echo diffusion-weighted imaging (TSE-DWI) at 3 T, for cholesteatoma (CS) diagnosis, using qualitative and quantitative methods with numerical assessment of signal intensity (SI), signal intensity ratios (SIR), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values. METHODS In this retrospective study, two blinded observers independently evaluated the preoperative TSE-DWI images of 57 patients who were imaged with a presumed diagnosis of CS. Qualitative assessment with respect to the SI of the adjacent cortex and quantitative measurements of SI, SIR, and ADC values were performed. RESULTS Surgery with histopathologic examination revealed 30 CS patients and 27 patients with non-cholesteatoma (NCS) lesions including chronic inflammation and cholesterol granuloma. On TSEDWI, 96.7% of the CS lesions and none of the NCS lesions appeared hyperintense compared with the cortex. The mean SI and SIR indices of the CS group were significantly higher and the mean ADC values significantly lower compared with those of the NCS group (P < 0.001). Using specific cutoff values for SI (92.5) and SIR (0.9), CS could be diagnosed with 100% sensitivity and specificity. The use of quantitative imaging further increased the sensitivity of the TSE-DWI technique. CONCLUSION The quantitative indices of SI, SIR, and ADC of TSE-DWI appear to be highly accurate parameters that can be used to confirm the diagnosis of CS.