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Whole-body PET/MRI of Pediatric Patients: The Details That Matter
Published on: December 19, 2017
Diffusion-weighted imaging in pediatric body magnetic resonance imaging
Govind B Chavhan1, Pablo Caro-Dominguez2
1Department of Diagnostic Imaging, The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, 555 University Ave., Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada. drgovindchavhan@yahoo.com.
Abstract:
Diffusion-weighted MRI is being increasingly used in pediatric body imaging. Its role is still emerging. It is used for detection of tumors and abscesses, differentiation of benign and malignant tumors, and detection of inflamed bowel segments in inflammatory bowel disease in children. It holds great promise in the assessment of therapy response in body tumors, with apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value as a potential biomarker. Significant overlap of ADC values of benign and malignant processes and less reproducibility of ADC measurements are hampering its widespread use in clinical practice. With standardization of the technique, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is likely to be used more frequently in clinical practice. We discuss the principles and technique of DWI, selection of b value, qualitative and quantitative assessment, and current status of DWI in evaluation of disease processes in the pediatric body.
Insights
Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) shows promise in pediatric body imaging for detecting diseases and assessing treatment response. Standardization is key to overcoming challenges like overlapping values and improving reproducibility for wider clinical use.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Pediatric Imaging
- Medical Imaging Techniques
Background:
- Diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) is an emerging technique in pediatric body imaging.
- Its applications include detecting tumors, abscesses, and inflammatory bowel disease in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the principles, techniques, and current applications of DWI in pediatric body imaging.
- To discuss the potential of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values as biomarkers for therapy response assessment.
Main Methods:
- Discussion of DWI principles, b-value selection, and qualitative/quantitative assessment methods.
- Review of current literature on DWI applications in pediatric body disease evaluation.
Main Results:
- DWI is valuable for disease detection and characterization in pediatric patients.
- Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values show potential for therapy response assessment but face challenges.
Conclusions:
- Widespread clinical adoption of DWI in pediatric body imaging is hindered by overlapping ADC values and reproducibility issues.
- Standardization of DWI techniques is crucial for its increased utilization in clinical practice.
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