Accelerated Multi-b-Value DWI Using Deep Learning Reconstruction: Image Quality Improvement and Microvascular
Yongjian Zhu1, Peng Wang1, Bingzhi Wang2
1Department of Diagnostic Radiology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China (Y.Z., P.W., B.F., W.C., S.W., X.Z., X.M.).
Rationale And Objectives:
To investigate the effect of accelerated deep-learning (DL) multi-b-value DWI (Mb-DWI) on acquisition time, image quality, and predictive ability of microvascular invasion (MVI) in BCLC stage A hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), compared to standard Mb-DWI.
Methods:
Patients who underwent liver MRI were prospectively collected. Subjective image quality, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), lesion contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and Mb-DWI-derived parameters from various models (mono-exponential model, intravoxel incoherent motion, diffusion kurtosis imaging, and stretched exponential model) were calculated and compared between the two sequences. The Mb-DWI parameters of two sequences were compared between MVI-positive and MVI-negative groups, respectively. ROC and logistic regression analysis were performed to evaluate and identify the predictive performance.
Results:
The study included 118 patients. 48/118 (40.67%) lesions were identified as MVI positive. DL Mb-DWI significantly reduced acquisition time by 52.86%. DL Mb-DWI produced significantly higher overall image quality, SNR, and CNR than standard Mb-DWI. All diffusion-related parameters except pseudo-diffusion coefficient showed significant differences between the two sequences. Both in DL and standard Mb-DWI, the apparent diffusion coefficient, true diffusion coefficient (D), perfusion fraction (f), mean diffusivity (MD), mean kurtosis (MK), and distributed diffusion coefficient (DDC) values were significantly different between MVI-positive and MVI-negative groups. The combination of D, f, and MK yield the highest AUC of 0.912 and 0.928 in standard and DL sequences, with no significant difference regarding the predictive efficiency.
Conclusion:
The DL Mb-DWI significantly reduces acquisition time and improves image quality, with comparable predictive performance to standard Mb-DWI in discriminating MVI status in BCLC stage A HCC.
