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Clinical Robustness of Accelerated and Optimized Abdominal Diffusion-Weighted Imaging
Jana Taron1, Jakob Weiß, Petros Martirosian
1From the *Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, and †Section on Experimental Radiology, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tuebingen; and ‡Siemens Healthcare GmbH, Erlangen, Germany.
This study demonstrates that an optimized diffusion-weighted imaging sequence using simultaneous multislice (SMS) technology significantly improves abdominal MRI quality and reduces scan time. The accelerated technique offers superior image quality and is suitable for routine clinical use.
Area of Science:
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging Technology
Background:
- Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is crucial for abdominal diagnostics.
- Optimizing DWI sequences is essential for improving image quality and reducing scan times in clinical practice.
- Simultaneous multislice (SMS) techniques offer potential for accelerated MRI acquisition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the robustness of an accelerated and optimized diffusion-weighted sequence for routine abdominal MRI.
- To assess the impact of simultaneous multislice (SMS) technique and 3D diagonal diffusion mode on scan time and image quality.
- To compare the optimized sequence with standard DWI protocols in terms of image quality and quantitative parameters.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving 150 patients undergoing abdominal MRI with an optimized SMS DWI sequence (DWIOPT).
- A subgroup of 41 patients also received a standard DWI sequence (DWISTD) for comparison.
- Qualitative and quantitative image parameters, including lesion conspicuity and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values, were assessed and compared.
Main Results:
- The optimized SMS DWI sequence (DWIOPT) achieved very high image quality ratings across all assessed parameters.
- DWIOPT demonstrated superior overall image quality and contour sharpness compared to the standard DWI sequence (DWISTD) (P < 0.05).
- Lesion conspicuity and ADC values were comparable between DWIOPT and DWISTD, with substantial interreader agreement (kappa = 0.78).
Conclusions:
- Integrating SMS technique and 3D diagonal diffusion mode considerably accelerates and optimizes abdominal DWI.
- The optimized DWI technique provides superior image quality in a large patient cohort while maintaining comparable ADC values to standard DWI.
- This accelerated and optimized DWI approach is suitable for daily clinical routine abdominal imaging.
