ObjectiveTo analyze findings of 3.0 T diffusion weighted magnetic resonance (MR) in hepatic alveolar echinococcosis and evaluate potential role of apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) in hepatic alveolar echinococcosis. MethodsThe clinical data of 26 patients with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis from November 2013 to January 2015 in this hospital were analyzed retrospectively. Hepatic MR scannings with diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) sequences (b-value=0, 600, 1 000, and 1 200 s/mm2) were performed in 26 patients with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis. The data of all the patients were stored to the PACS. The lesion features including type, size, distribution, location, and calcification (on the CT) were assessed by two deputy radiologists. TheADCvalues of marginal area, centre area, surrounding area of liver parenchyma tissue were measured at different b values (0, 600, 1 000, and 1 200 s/mm2) and compared. Results①There were 26 patients with a total of 29 lesions, of which involved multiple liver segments, 21 (72%) lesions located in the right lobe, 4 lesions involved simultaneously the left and right lobes. Twenty-four lesions invaded the hepatic vein or portal vein, 20 lesions invaded the intrahepatic bile duct, 10 lesions invaded the right adrenal gland. Seven patients occurred hilar and retroperitoneal lymph nodes metastases, 5 patients occurred pulmonary metastasis, 3 patients occurred brain metastasis, while 3 patients occurred lung and brain metastases simultaneously. ②There were 20 liquefied necrotic lesions, of which 5 lesions marginal area had multiple small round cysts in T2WI, 15 were only solid and without small cyst; The DWI of the centre area in 12 lesions showed a high signal, 8 lesions showed a low signal. There were 9 solid lesions, of which 2 lesions marginal area had multiple small round cysts in T2WI, 7 lesions marginal area were only solid and without cyst in T2WI. The DWI of the solid lesions showed a low signal, there was a "ring" high signal in the edge of lesions. ③At the same b value, theADCvalue of the centre area in the liquefied necrosis lesions were significantly higher than that in the solid lesions (P<0.01). At different b values, theADCvalue of the surrounding liver parenchyma tissue was significantly lower than that of the marginal area (P<0.01) and the centre area (P<0.01) in the liquefied necrosis lesions; theADCvalue of the centre area was significantly higher than that of the marginal area or surrounding liver parenchyma tissue (P<0.05, P<0.01) in the solid lesions. ConclusionsDWI could clearly distinguish structure and composition of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis and has a higher value in distinguishing from other liver dieases. The averageADCvalue of centre area in liquefied necrotic lesions is higher than that in solid lesions.