Sinonasal secretions: evaluation by diffusion-weighted imaging and apparent diffusion coefficients

This study retrospectively reviewed magnetic resonance images of 20 patients with sinonasal inflammatory diseases. Forty-four areas of sinonasal secretions were analyzed with correlation between the signal ratios on T2-weighted images and the diffusion-weighted imaging signal ratios or apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs). ADCs decreased in direct proportion to the signal ratios on the T2-weighted images (P<.001, r=.56). Given the correlation between the ADCs and the physiological state of sinonasal secretions, ADCs may provide quantitative information useful to the diagnosis of sinonasal inflammatory disease.