Image Quality and Focal Lesion Detectability Analysis of Multiband Variable-Rate Selective Excitation Diffusion-Weighted Imaging of the Liver Using 3.0-T MRI

ABSTRACT

Purpose@#Acquisition time reduction in diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) can be achieved by the combining multiband and variable-rate selective excitation (MB-VERSE). This study attempted to evaluate and compare the image quality (IQ) and focal lesion detectability of the respiratory-triggered MB-VERSE DWI with conventional DWI for liver magnetic resonance imaging. @*Materials and Methods@#The acquisition time, IQ, and focal lesion detectability of MBVERSE DWI and conventional DWI were compared in 144 patients. Qualitative (overall IQ, IQ at the liver dome, sharpness of the liver margin, and degree of artifacts) and quantitative (signal-to-noise ratio [SNR], contrast-to-noise ratio [CNR], and apparent diffusion co efficient) IQ parameters were compared with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The diagnostic accuracy for focal lesion detectability was estimated with the mean figure of merit (FOM) from the area under the jackknife alternative free-response receiver operating characteristic curve. @*Results@#The MB-VERSE DWI exhibited significantly shorter scan time (153.1 ± 34.5 s vs.225.1 ± 33.0 s, p 0.050) and similar diagnostic accuracy (FOM, 0.958 vs.0.957, p = 0.583) compared to those of the conventional DWI. @*Conclusion@#MB-VERSE DWI exhibited a significantly shorter acquisition time than conventional DWI, with compromised overall IQ and lower SNR but preserved CNR and focal liver lesion detectability. MB-VERSE DWI may be a useful alternative for patients requiring a short acquisition time.