Reproducibility study of intravoxel incoherent motion and apparent diffusion coefficient parameters in normal...

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Medical Imaging
• Quantitative MRI

Background:

• Pancreatic apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) parameter consistency across MRI devices is crucial for accurate patient diagnosis and treatment.
• Variability in these quantitative MRI metrics can impact clinical decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the consistency of image quality, ADC values, and IVIM parameters (true diffusion coefficient, pseudo-diffusion coefficient, perfusion fraction) across different 3.0T MRI vendors for pancreatic examinations.
• To assess inter-observer and inter-device agreement for quantitative pancreatic MRI metrics.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of pancreatic diffusion-weighted imaging from 22 healthy volunteers using 3.0T MRI from three vendors.
• Subjective image quality scoring and quantitative measurements of ADC and signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs).
• Delineation of regions of interest (ROIs) for IVIM parameter calculation and statistical analysis using kappa tests, ICCs, mixed linear models, and Bland-Altman plots.

Main Results:

• High inter-observer agreement for subjective image quality (Kappa = 0.776) and quantitative parameters (ICC = 0.803-0.883).
• Consistent signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values across different MRI devices (ICC > 0.707 for ADC).
• Limited statistically significant inter-device agreement and generally low ICC values for IVIM parameters, with observed differences in D and f values across machines.

Conclusions:

• Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values demonstrate good consistency among different MRI devices for pancreatic imaging.
• Intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) parameter repeatability is only moderate, with significant variability potentially linked to the use of different MRI machines.
• Clinical application of IVIM parameters for pancreatic assessment requires careful consideration due to inter-device variability.