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Reduced field-of-view and multi-shot DWI acquisition techniques: Prospective evaluation of image quality and
Edward M Lawrence1, Yuxin Zhang2, Jitka Starekova1
1Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.
Objectives:
To prospectively compare image quality and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) quantification for reduced field-of-view (rFOV)- and multi-shot echo-planar imaging (msEPI)-based diffusion weighted imaging (DWI), using single-shot echo-planar-imaging (ssEPI) DWI as the reference.
Methods:
Under IRB approval and after informed consent, msEPI, rFOV, and ssEPI DWI acquisitions were prospectively added to clinical prostate MRI exams at 3.0 T. Image distortion was quantitatively evaluated by root-mean-squared displacement (dr.m.s.). Histogram-based quantitative ADC parameters were compared in a sub-set of patients for proven sites of prostate cancer and matched non-cancerous prostate. Three radiologists also independently evaluated the DWI sequences for subjective image quality and distortion/artifact on a 5-point Likert scale.
Results:
Twenty-five patients were included (15 with proven sites of cancer). Average dr.m.s. demonstrated a small but statistically significant reduction in distortion for both rFOV and msEPI relative to ssEPI. Quantitative ADC parameters for prostate tumors demonstrated no significant difference across the 3 DWI acquisitions and each acquisition demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in mean ADC for tumor compared to normal prostate. Qualitative reader assessment demonstrated favorable image quality for rFOV and msEPI, more notable for msEPI.
Conclusions:
rFOV and msEPI DWI techniques achieved reduction in image distortion, improvement in image quality, and maintained reproducible ADC quantification compared to the standard ssEPI.
Insights
Reduced field-of-view (rFOV) and multi-shot echo-planar imaging (msEPI) diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) offer improved image quality and reduced distortion compared to single-shot echo-planar imaging (ssEPI) DWI, while maintaining accurate apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) quantification for prostate cancer.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
- Oncology
Background:
- Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is crucial for prostate MRI.
- Standard single-shot echo-planar imaging (ssEPI) DWI is prone to image distortion.
- Advanced DWI techniques aim to improve image quality and diagnostic accuracy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively compare image quality and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) quantification of reduced field-of-view (rFOV) and multi-shot echo-planar imaging (msEPI) DWI.
- To evaluate these techniques against the reference standard of single-shot echo-planar imaging (ssEPI) DWI in prostate MRI.
Main Methods:
- Prospective addition of msEPI, rFOV, and ssEPI DWI to 3.0T prostate MRI exams.
- Quantitative evaluation of image distortion using root-mean-squared displacement (dr.m.s.).
- Comparison of histogram-based ADC parameters in cancerous and non-cancerous prostate tissue, alongside subjective radiologist assessments of image quality and artifacts.
Main Results:
- Both rFOV and msEPI DWI showed statistically significant reductions in image distortion compared to ssEPI DWI.
- Quantitative ADC parameters for prostate tumors were comparable across all three DWI techniques.
- Subjective image quality assessments favored rFOV and particularly msEPI DWI, with notable improvements in distortion and artifact reduction.
Conclusions:
- Reduced field-of-view (rFOV) and multi-shot echo-planar imaging (msEPI) DWI techniques effectively reduce image distortion and enhance image quality in prostate MRI.
- These advanced DWI methods maintain reproducible apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) quantification compared to standard ssEPI.
- rFOV and msEPI represent valuable alternatives to ssEPI for improved prostate cancer imaging.
