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Published on: December 18, 2016
Comparison of Intravoxel Incoherent Motion Parameters across MR Imagers and Field Strengths: Evaluation in Upper
Sebastiano Barbieri1, Olivio F Donati1, Johannes M Froehlich1
1From the Institute of Diagnostic, Pediatric, and Interventional Radiology, Inselspital University Hospital, Inselspital, Freiburgstrasse 10, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland (S.B., J.M.F., H.C.T.); and Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland (O.F.D.).
Abstract:
Purpose To determine the reproducibility of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) parameters measured in upper abdominal organs with magnetic resonance (MR) imagers from different vendors and with different field strengths. Materials and Methods This prospective study was approved by the independent ethics committees of Kanton Bern and Kanton Zurich, and signed informed consent was obtained from all participants. Abdominal diffusion-weighted images in 10 healthy men (mean age, 37 years ± 8 [standard deviation]) were acquired by using 1.5- and 3.0-T MR imagers from three different vendors. Two readers independently delineated regions of interest that were used to measure IVIM parameters (diffusion coefficient [Dt], perfusion fraction [Fp], and pseudodiffusion coefficient [Dp]) in the left and right lobes of the liver, and in the pancreas, spleen, renal cortex, and renal medulla. Measurement reproducibility between readers was assessed with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Variability across MR imagers was analyzed by using between- and within-subject coefficients of variation (CVs) and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results Between-reader reproducibility was high for Dt (ICC, 94.6%), intermediate for Fp (ICC, 81.7%), and low for Dp (ICC, 69.5%). Between- and within-subject CVs of Dt were relatively high (>20%) in the left lobe of the liver and relatively low (<10%) in the renal cortex and renal medulla. CVs generally exceeded 15% for Fp values and 20% for Dp. ANOVA indicated significant differences (P < .05) between MR imagers. Conclusion IVIM parameters in the upper abdomen may differ substantially across MR imagers. (©) RSNA, 2015 Online supplemental material is available for this article.
Insights
Intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) parameters for upper abdominal organs show significant variability across MRI scanners from different vendors and field strengths. This impacts the reliability of diffusion coefficient (Dt), perfusion fraction (Fp), and pseudodiffusion coefficient (Dp) measurements.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
- Biophysics
Background:
- Intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging provides quantitative parameters for tissue microstructural and microcirculatory properties.
- Reproducibility of IVIM parameters across different MR imaging systems is crucial for clinical application and multi-center studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the reproducibility of key IVIM parameters (Dt, Fp, Dp) in upper abdominal organs.
- To evaluate the impact of different MR vendors and field strengths (1.5T and 3.0T) on IVIM parameter measurements.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study involving 10 healthy male participants.
- Abdominal diffusion-weighted MR images acquired on 1.5T and 3.0T scanners from three vendors.
- Regions of interest delineated in liver, pancreas, spleen, and kidneys for IVIM parameter measurement.
- Reproducibility assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and analysis of variance (ANOVA).
Main Results:
- High between-reader reproducibility for diffusion coefficient (Dt) (ICC, 94.6%).
- Intermediate reproducibility for perfusion fraction (Fp) (ICC, 81.7%) and low for pseudodiffusion coefficient (Dp) (ICC, 69.5%).
- Significant variability in IVIM parameters observed across different MR imagers (P < .05).
Conclusions:
- IVIM parameters in the upper abdomen exhibit substantial differences depending on the MR imager used.
- Variability in Dt, Fp, and Dp across vendors and field strengths necessitates careful consideration for clinical interpretation and standardization.
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