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Multi-centre reproducibility of diffusion MRI parameters for clinical sequences in the brain
Matthew Grech-Sollars1, Patrick W Hales, Keiko Miyazaki
1Developmental Imaging and Biophysics Section, UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK.
NMR in Biomedicine
|March 25, 2015
Summary
Diffusion MRI parameters like ADC, D, MD, and FA show excellent reproducibility across multiple scanners and field strengths. The IVIM parameter f demonstrated lower reproducibility, highlighting its sensitivity to scanner variations and acquisition settings.
Area of Science:
- Radiology and Medical Imaging
- Neuroimaging
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging (dMRI) is crucial for quantitative neuroimaging.
- Assessing reproducibility across different scanners and centers is vital for multi-center clinical trials.
- Limited harmonization between sequences can impact parameter reliability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the reproducibility of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), intra-voxel incoherent motion (IVIM), and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters.
- To assess parameter consistency across multiple centers and scanners using clinically available protocols.
- To determine the suitability of these dMRI parameters for multi-center clinical studies.
Main Methods:
- Scanned an ice-water phantom and nine healthy volunteers across five centers on eight scanners (Siemens 1.5T, Philips 3T).
- Measured mean ADC, IVIM parameters (D, f), and DTI parameters (MD, FA) in various brain regions.
- Employed a mixed-effects model to quantify intra- and inter-scanner coefficients of variation (CV).
Main Results:
- ADC, D, MD, and FA exhibited good intra- and inter-scanner reproducibility (CV: 1-7.4%, mean 2.6%) in grey and white matter.
- The IVIM parameter f showed higher intra-scanner (8.4%) and inter-scanner (24.8%) CV, with increased variability when combining different field strengths.
- Reproducibility was generally consistent between 1.5T and 3T scanners for ADC, D, MD, and FA, with parameter f being sensitive to acquisition resolution.
Conclusions:
- The majority of diffusion MRI-derived parameters (ADC, D, MD, FA) are robust and suitable for multi-center clinical studies.
- The IVIM parameter f requires further standardization due to its lower reproducibility and sensitivity to field strength and acquisition parameters.
- Multi-center dMRI studies are feasible with current clinically available protocols, provided careful consideration of parameter selection.
