Apparent diffusion coefficient measurement using thin-slice diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging: assessment...

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Medical Imaging
• Biophysics

Background:

• Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) quantification is crucial for various medical imaging applications.
• Thin-slice imaging offers potential benefits in scan time and spatial resolution.
• Assessing measurement error and repeatability is vital for clinical translation of imaging techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the measurement error and repeatability of ADC values derived from thin-slice diffusion-weighted imaging.
• To compare the performance of 1.5-T and 3.0-T MRI scanners for ADC measurement using different slice thicknesses.
• To determine the reliability of ADC measurements with 1-mm slice thickness for clinical applications.

Main Methods:

• Diffusion-weighted images were acquired from an ice-water phantom using 1.5-T and 3.0-T scanners with 1-, 3-, and 5-mm slice thicknesses.
• ADC maps were generated at b-values of 0 and 1000 mm²/s across five consecutive scans.
• Measurement accuracy, precision, and repeatability (within-subject coefficient of variation) were assessed.

Main Results:

• ADC accuracy for both scanners aligned with the known ADC of water at 0°C.
• For 1-mm slices, the 3.0-T scanner demonstrated higher precision (2.9%) compared to the 1.5-T scanner (8.4%).
• Repeatability for 1-mm slices was superior on the 3.0-T scanner (1.3%) versus the 1.5-T scanner (3.4%).

Conclusions:

• The 3.0-T scanner exhibits acceptable measurement errors and moderate repeatability, meeting Quantitative Imaging Biomarkers Alliance recommendations.
• Reliable ADC measurements are achievable with a 3.0-T scanner even at 1-mm slice thickness.
• Thin-slice (1-mm) imaging on a 3.0-T scanner is feasible for accurate ADC quantification within reasonable scan times.