Intravoxel Incoherent Motion MRI in Assessment of Microenvironment in Patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis / 中国医学影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Purpose Intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) MR is a method developed in recent years which can quantitatively evaluate the diffusion and perfusion characteristics of microenvironment.The aim of this study was to investigate the application value of IVIM in assessing relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).Materials and Methods A retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 27 patients with RRMS confirmed clinically at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from Jun.2015 to Jan.2016 was carried out in the study.All the patients underwent the conventional MRI and IVIM MRI based on multi-b-factor (b values of 10,20,30,40,50,100,150,200,350,500,650,800,1000 s/mm2) with 3.0T MR scanner.The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC),ADCslow,ADCfast and f values were evaluated since they could reflect the diffusion and perfusion status of RRMS lesions and normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) regions.Results The ADC,ADCslow,ADCfast and f values of the non-enhancing (NE) lesions were significantly higher than those in the NAWM regions both near and far from NE lesions (P＜0.05).However,the ADC,ADCslow,ADCfast and f values in the NAWM regions close to the NE lesions had no significant differences with those in the NAWM regions far from the lesions (P＞0.05).Conclusion The IVIM MRI can measure the diffusion and perfusion status of the lesions and NAWM in RRMS patients,which,therefore,is helpful in speculation of the pathological changes of RRMS lesions and in its injury classification and identification.