ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the optimal scanning parameters for diffusion tensor imaging of the cervical cord.Methods MRI and diffusion tensor imaging of the cervical cord was performed in 80 healthy adult volunteers.Different parameters including b values,the number of the diffusion sensitive gradient directions,the number of excitations,and slice thickness were applied and their effects on the quality of the images were compared.DTI was performed on the cervical spinal cord with different b-values (400,700,and 1000 s/mm~2)in group 1,with different numbers of diffusion gradient directions(6,13, and 25)in group 2,with different numbers of excitations(2,4,and 8)in group 3,and with different slice thicknesses(2,3,and 4 mm)in group 4.Two radiology experts gave a score to every image with double blind methods,then compared the image quality.Results In the comparison of the four different parameters,DTIs using a b value of 700 s/mm~2(2.25?0.58)showed better image quality than those with the b values of 400 s/mm~2(1.86?0.53)and 1000 s/mm~2(1.48?0.35)(P