Comparison of the Differential Diagnostic Performance of Intravoxel Incoherent Motion Imaging and Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging in Malignant and Benign Thyroid Nodules

ObjectiveThis study aimed to compare the diagnostic capacity between IVIM and DKI in differentiating malignant from benign thyroid nodules. Material and MethodsThis study is based on magnetic resonance imaging data of the thyroid with histopathology as the reference standard. Spearman analysis was used to assess the relationship of IVIM-derived parameters D, f, D* and the DKI-derived parameters D-app and K-app. The parameters of IVIM and DKI were compared between the malignant and benign groups. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to establish the diagnostic model, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was subsequently performed. The DeLong test was used to compare the diagnostic effectiveness of different prediction models. Spearman analysis was used to assess the relationship of Ki-67 expression and parameters of IVIM and DKI. ResultsAmong the 93 nodules, 46 nodules were malignant, and 47 nodules were benign. The D-app of DKI-derived parameter was related to the D (P < 0.001, r = 0.863) of IVIM-derived parameter. The K-app of DKI-derived parameter was related to the D (P < 0.001, r = -0.831) of IVIM-derived parameters. The malignant group had a significantly lower D value (P < 0.001) and f value (P = 0.013) than the benign group. The malignant group had significantly higher K-app and lower D-app values (all P < 0.001). The D+f had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.951. The D-app+K-app had an AUC of 0.943. The D+f+D-app+K-app had an AUC of 0.954. The DeLong test showed no statistical significance among there prediction models. The D (P = 0.007) of IVIM-derived parameters and D-app (P = 0.045) of DKI-derived parameter were correlated to the Ki-67 expression. ConclusionsIVIM and DKI were alternative for each other in in differentiating malignant from benign thyroid nodules.