Deep Learning-Based Denoising for High b-Value at 2000 s/mm2 Diffusion-Weighted Imaging

Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) allows white matter quantification of the white matter tracts of the brain. However, at a high b-value (≥ 2000 s/mm2), DWI acquisition suffers from noise due to longer acquisition times obscuring white matter interpretation. DWI denoising techniques can be used to acquire high b-value DWI without increasing the number of signal averages. We used a residual learning-based convolutional neural network (DnCNN) to reduce noise in high b-value DWI based on the literature review. We applied the proposed denoising method on high b-value, retrospectively collected DWI data with multiple noise levels. Experimental results show an improved image quality after denoising in retrospective DWI (average PSNR before and after denoising: 27.63 ± 1.06 dB and 51.76 ± 1.95 dB, respectively). The prospective DWI included one and two signal averages for denoising. DWI with four signal averages was used as the reference. Representative images show high b-value prospective DW images denoised using the DnCNN. We demonstrated DnCNN for cases of multiple noise levels and signal averages. For the prospective study, the PSNR values for 1-NEX before and after denoising were 27.39 ± 3.75 dB and 27.68 ± 3.75 dB. For 2-NEX, the PSNR values before and after denoising were 27.51 ± 4.18 dB and 27.75 ± 4.05 dB.