Strong-Gradient Diffusion-Weighted Imaging of Prostate Cancer Using an Inside-Out Nonlinear Gradient Coil

To demonstrate improved image quality and lesion conspicuity in prostate diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) using an inside-out nonlinear gradient coil that provides locally strong gradients (200-500 500 mT/m) at typical prostate positions.

Before applying the nonlinear gradient coil to DWI with Echo Planar Imaging (EPI) readout, we investigated geometric distortion and eddy currents, and proposed necessary corrections. We then developed two DWI protocols (b_max = 1000 and 3000 s/mm²) with minimized echo time (TE) and tested them on volunteers and patients. We validated apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps from the nonlinear gradient acquisition against the reference (linear gradients only). We quantified improvements in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), lesion contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and lesion-to-normal-tissue contrast ratio in the compartmental map of restricted diffusion.

Corrections effectively reduced nonlinear-gradient DWI artifacts. ADC maps from linear- and nonlinear-gradient-encoded studies agreed well, with a normalized root-mean-square-error of ∼10%, a common level of ADC variation. TE was significantly reduced from 57 to 42-47 ms for moderate b-values (≤ 1000 s/mm²) and from 72 to 42-54 ms for high b-values (≤ 3000 s/mm²). Consequently, SNR increased by 3%-38% (median 16%, p < 0.01) and 7%-38% (median 26%, p < 0.01), respectively. Lesion CNR improved by a median of 133% at b = 2000 s/mm² and 217% at b = 3000 s/mm². The restricted diffusion component in lesions was more conspicuous at short TE, with a median 23% increase in lesion-to-normal-tissue contrast ratio (p = 0.02).

The inside-out nonlinear gradient coil enhances prostate DWI.