ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) studies are performed with different acquisition protocols. Comparing them requires knowledge of echo time (TE) dependencies. The TE-dependence of the biexponential perfusion fraction f is well-documented, unlike that of its triexponential counterparts f1 and f2 and the biexponential and triexponential pseudodiffusion coefficients D* , D1∗ , and D2∗ . The purpose was to investigate the TE-dependence of these parameters and to check whether the triexponential pseudodiffusion compartments are associated with arterial and venous blood. METHODS: Fifteen healthy volunteers (19-58 y; mean: 24.7 y) underwent diffusion-weighted imaging of the abdomen with 24 b-values (0.2-800 s/mm2 ) at TEs of 45, 60, 75, and 90 ms. Regions of interest (ROIs) were manually drawn in the liver. One set of bi- and triexponential IVIM parameters per volunteer and TE was determined. The TE-dependence was assessed with the Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: TE-dependence was observed for f (P < .001), f1 (P = .001), and f2 (P < .001). Their median values at the four measured TEs were: f: 0.198/0.240/0.274/0.359, f1 : 0.113/0.139/0.146/0.205, f2 : 0.115/0.155/0.182/0.194. D, D* , D1∗ , and D2∗ showed no significant TE-dependence. Their values were: diffusion coefficient D (10-4 mm2 /s): 9.45/9.63/9.75/9.41, biexponential D* (10-2 mm2 /s): 5.26/5.52/6.13/5.82, triexponential D1∗ (10-2 mm2 /s): 1.73/2.91/2.25/2.51, triexponential D2∗ (mm2 /s): 0.478/1.385/0.616/0.846. CONCLUSION: f1 and f2 show similar TE-dependence as f, ie, increase with rising TE; an effect that must be accounted for when comparing different studies. The diffusion and pseudodiffusion coefficients might be compared without TE correction. Because of the similar TE-dependence of f1 and f2 , the triexponential pseudodiffusion compartments are most probably not associated to venous and arterial blood.
Subject(s)
Algorithms , Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Abdomen , Humans , Liver/diagnostic imaging , Motion , Reproducibility of ResultsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Studies on intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) imaging are carried out with different acquisition protocols. PURPOSE: To investigate the dependence of IVIM parameters on the B0 field strength when using a bi- or triexponential model. STUDY TYPE: Prospective. STUDY POPULATION: 20 healthy volunteers (age: 19-28 years). FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: Volunteers were examined at two field strengths (1.5 and 3T). Diffusion-weighted images of the abdomen were acquired at 24 b-values ranging from 0.2 to 500 s/mm2 . ASSESSMENT: ROIs were manually drawn in the liver. Data were fitted with a bi- and a triexponential IVIM model. The resulting parameters were compared between both field strengths. STATISTICAL TESTS: One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Kruskal-Wallis test were used to test the obtained IVIM parameters for a significant field strength dependency. RESULTS: At b-values below 6 s/mm2 , the triexponential model provided better agreement with the data than the biexponential model. The average tissue diffusivity was D = 1.22/1.00 µm2 /msec at 1.5/3T. The average pseudodiffusion coefficients for the biexponential model were D* = 308/260 µm2 /msec at 1.5/3T; and for the triexponential model D1* = 81.3/65.9 µm2 /msec, D2* = 2453/2333 µm2 /msec at 1.5/3T. The average perfusion fractions for the biexponential model were f = 0.286/0.303 at 1.5/3T; and for the triexponential model f1 = 0.161/0.174 and f2 = 0.152/0.159 at 1.5/3T. A significant B0 dependence was only found for the biexponential pseudodiffusion coefficient (ANOVA/KW P = 0.037/0.0453) and tissue diffusivity (ANOVA/KW: P < 0.001). DATA CONCLUSION: Our experimental results suggest that triexponential pseudodiffusion coefficients and perfusion fractions obtained at different field strengths could be compared across different studies using different B0 . However, it is recommended to take the field strength into account when comparing tissue diffusivities or using the biexponential IVIM model. Considering published values for oxygenation-dependent transversal relaxation times of blood, it is unlikely that the two blood compartments of the triexponential model represent venous and arterial blood. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1 Technical Efficacy Stage: 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;50:1883-1892.
