Apparent diffusion coefficient measurement using thin-slice diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging: assessment of measurement errors and repeatability

• Published in: Radiological physics and technology 2021-06, Vol.14 (2), p.203-209
• Main Authors: Yoshida, Tsukasa, Urikura, Atsushi, Hosokawa, Yoichiro, Shirata, Kensei, Nakaya, Yoshihiro, Endo, Masahiro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomarkers; Coefficient of variation; Diffusion; Diffusion coefficient; Error analysis; Image acquisition; Imaging; Magnetic resonance imaging; Medical and Radiation Physics; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Nuclear Medicine; Radiology; Radiotherapy; Reproducibility; Scanners; Thickness
• ISSN: 1865-0333; 1865-0341
• DOI: 10.1007/s12194-021-00616-4

We investigated the measurement error and repeatability of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) obtained using thin-slice imaging. Diffusion-weighted images of an ice-water phantom were acquired using 1.5-T and 3.0-T scanners with 1-, 3-, and 5-mm thickness. ADC maps were generated at b  = 0 and 1000 mm 2 /s using five consecutive scans. Measurement errors were assessed with accuracy and precision. Repeatability was assessed using the within-subject coefficient of variation. The ADC accuracy of both scanners agreed with the ADC of water at 0 °C. At 1-mm, precisions were 2.9% and 8.4% for the 3.0-T and 1.5-T scanners, respectively. The repeatabilities of 1-mm thickness were 1.3% and 3.4% in the 3.0-T and 1.5-T scanners, respectively. The 3.0-T scanner showed acceptable measurement errors and moderate repeatability compared with Quantitative Imaging Biomarkers Alliance recommendation. A 3.0-T scanner can be used for reliable ADC measurement, even with a 1-mm thickness at a reasonable scan time.