Apparent diffusion coefficient value of brain metastasis from lung carcinoma as potential predictor of epidermal growth factor receptor mutation

Background Lung carcinoma metastases to the brain occurred in 40% of all lung carcinoma cases and it occupied the top ranking of mortality of cancers. MRI plays an important role in predicting mutations of lung carcinoma. Objective This study aimed to compare apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values ​​from brain MRI among lung carcinoma patients with and without epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations which result in brain metastases. Methods Data of fifty-two patients with brain metastasis from lung carcinoma during 2019 to 2022 were taken. The three regions of interest (ROI) were placed to the mutation, non-mutation, and non-lesion groups to predict ADC values. Results The ADC values of the EGFR mutation group were not significantly different from either the non-EGFR mutation group or the non-lesion group. The average ADC value of the EGFR mutation group was the lowest, followed by the non-EGFR mutation group and the non-lesion group. The prediction of ADC values ​in the EGFR mutation group ranged 0,773–0,815 × 10 −3 mm 2 /s, followed by the non-EGFR mutation group 0,82 × 10 −3 mm 2 /s, and non-lesion group 0.841 × 10 −3 mm 2 /s. Conclusions The ADC values in contrast-brain-MRI can be used as a predictor of EGFR mutations in lung carcinoma with lower prediction value than non-EGFR mutation patients. The ADC values in MRI can contribute in diagnosing and planning further management for lung carcinoma towards precision therapy era.