The value of intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging in predicting the pathologic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

• The optimal cutoff values of post-NAC D and ΔD for predicting pathologic response to NAC in locally advanced ESCC were 1.685 × 10-3 mm2/s and 0.350 × 10-3 mm2/s, respectively. • Pathologic response to NAC in locally advanced ESCC was favorable in patients with post-NAC D and ΔD values that were higher than the optimal cutoff values. • IVIM-DWI can potentially be used to preoperatively predict pathologic response to NAC in esophageal carcinoma. Accurate quantification of the D value derived from IVIM-DWI may eventually translate into an effective and non-invasive marker to predict therapeutic efficacy.