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Short-term reproducibility of apparent diffusion coefficient estimated from diffusion-weighted MRI of the prostate
Meredith Sadinski1, Milica Medved2, Ibrahim Karademir3,4
1Department of Radiology, University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Avenue, MC 2026, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA. sadinski@uchicago.edu.
Purpose:
The purpose of the study is to determine short-term reproducibility of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) estimated from diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (DW-MR) imaging of the prostate.
Methods:
Fourteen patients with biopsy-proven prostate cancer were studied under an Institutional Review Board-approved protocol. Each patient underwent two, consecutive and identical DW-MR scans on a 3T system. ADC values were calculated from each scan and a deformable registration was performed to align corresponding images. The prostate and cancerous regions of interest (ROIs) were independently analyzed by two radiologists. The prostate volume was analyzed by sextant. Per-voxel absolute and relative percentage variations in ADC were compared between sextants. Per-voxel and per-ROI variations in ADC were calculated for cancerous ROIs.
Results:
Per-voxel absolute difference in ADC in the prostate ranged from 0 to 1.60 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s (per-voxel relative difference 0% to 200%, mean 10.5%). Variation in ADC was largest in the posterior apex (0% to 200%, mean 11.6%). Difference in ADC variation between sextants was not statistically significant. Cancer ROIs' per-voxel variation in ADC ranged from 0.001 × 10(-3) to 0.841 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s (0% to 67.4%, mean 11.2%) and per-ROI variation ranged from 0 to 0.463 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s (mean 0.122 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s).
Conclusions:
Variation in ADC within the human prostate is reasonably small, and is on the order of 10%.
Insights
Short-term diffusion-weighted MRI (DW-MRI) shows good reproducibility for prostate cancer assessment. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) variation is approximately 10%, supporting its use in clinical settings.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Oncology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (DW-MR) imaging is crucial for prostate cancer evaluation.
- Understanding the short-term reproducibility of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements is essential for reliable diagnosis and monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the short-term reproducibility of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in the prostate using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (DW-MR) imaging.
- To quantify variations in ADC measurements within different regions of the prostate and in cancerous regions of interest (ROIs).
Main Methods:
- Fourteen patients with biopsy-proven prostate cancer underwent two consecutive DW-MR scans on a 3T system.
- Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were calculated, and deformable registration aligned corresponding images.
- Per-voxel and per-ROI variations in ADC were analyzed across prostate sextants and within cancerous ROIs.
Main Results:
- Per-voxel absolute difference in prostate ADC ranged up to 1.60 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s (mean 10.5% relative difference).
- ADC variation was highest in the posterior apex (mean 11.6%).
- Cancer ROIs showed per-voxel ADC variation up to 67.4% (mean 11.2%) and per-ROI variation with a mean of 0.122 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s.
Conclusions:
- Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) variation within the human prostate is relatively small, averaging around 10%.
- These findings support the short-term reproducibility of DW-MR imaging for prostate cancer assessment.
