Fetal lung apparent diffusion coefficient measurement using diffusion-weighted MRI at 3 Tesla: Correlation with...

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Radiology
• Fetal Development

Background:

• Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) is a non-invasive technique.
• Assessing fetal lung development is crucial for understanding lung maturation and potential abnormalities.
• Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) provides quantitative information about water molecule diffusion within tissues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the feasibility of using DW-MRI to measure fetal lung ADC at 3 Tesla.
• To establish the relationship between fetal lung ADC and gestational age.

Main Methods:

• Seventy-one pregnant women underwent DW-MRI at 3 Tesla using a twice-refocused Echo-planar sequence with multiple b-values and orthogonal diffusion orientations.
• Regions of interest were drawn in the fetal lungs, and ADC values were computed using a robust maximum likelihood estimation algorithm.
• Image quality was assessed based on motion levels.

Main Results:

• After excluding scans with excessive motion, fetal lung ADC values demonstrated a significant association with gestational age (P < 0.01).
• ADC values increased substantially between 16 and 27 weeks of gestation.
• A plateau in ADC values was observed around 27 weeks of gestation.

Conclusions:

• Reliable estimation of fetal lung ADC values is achievable with DW-MRI.
• Multiple b-value acquisition, with motion correction or consideration, is essential for accurate ADC measurements.
• This technique can provide valuable insights into fetal lung development and maturation.