A comparison of high b-value vs standard b-value diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging at 3.0 T for...

To investigate the utility of diffusion-weighted (DW) MRI using high b-value vs standard b-value for patients with medulloblastoma (MB). Minimum apparent diffusion coefficient (ADCMIN) values were also compared with tumour cellularity.

High and standard b-value DW images were obtained for 17 patients with MB. The number and location of the lesions, signal intensities (SIs), signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs), contrast-to-noise ratios, contrast ratios (CRs) and ADCs of the lesions were compared. Tumour cellularity was also measured and compared with ADCMIN values.

All 20 lesions were hyperintense on the DW MR images with high and standard b-values. Four additional lesions were revealed on high b-value, and all 24 lesions were more conspicuous at high b-value. SI, SNR and ADC values for the lesions were lower in the high b-value images than in the standard b-value images. The ADCMIN value at b = 3000 s mm(-2) was more significantly associated with tumour cellularity than that at b = 1000 s mm(-2). CR values were significantly higher in the high b-value images than in the standard b-value images.

DW imaging using high b-value may be beneficial for detecting additional, less prominent lesions and may improve the contrast between MB lesions and normal tissue. A stronger inverse correlation with tumour cellularity was identified using the ADCMIN values at high b-value.

This study demonstrates the superiority of high b-value DW imaging compared with standard b-value imaging for the detection of MB lesions, especially those with subtle foci.