Apparent diffusion coefficient values detected by diffusion-weighted imaging in the prognosis of patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma receiving chemoradiation

PURPOSE Previous studies have demonstrated that apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values measured by magnetic resonance imaging have prognostic value in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, the role of ADC needs to be validated in a cohort of Chinese ESCC patients. This study assessed the role of ADC in predicting the outcome of patients with ESCC treated only by chemoradiation in the People's Republic of China. PATIENTS AND METHODS Seventy-three patients with local advanced ESCC were retrospectively analyzed in this study; none of the patients underwent surgery before or after chemoradiation. The ADC values of the primary tumors were determined by magnetic resonance imaging. The ADC values were then correlated with clinicopathological and other radiological parameters. Survival analysis was carried out to determine if ADC had an impact on survival of these patients. RESULTS The median ADC value of the esophageal cancer tissue was 1.256*10-3 mm2/sec (range: 0.657-2.354*10-3 mm2/sec, interquartile range 0.606*10-3 mm2/sec). No clinicopathological or radiological parameters were associated with the ADC values except the sites of tumor tissues. ADC <1.076*10-3 mm2/sec predicted significantly worse survival in patients with ESCC (12.9 months vs undefined, P=0.0108). CONCLUSION The ADC value is a potent prognostic factor which can be used to predict the outcome of patients with ESCC treated only by chemoradiation.