Chemical shift–encoded multishot EPI for navigator‐free prostate DWI

• Published in: Magnetic resonance in medicine 2025-03, Vol.93 (3), p.1059-1076
• Main Authors: Dong, Yiming, Atkinson, David, Koolstra, Kirsten, Osch, Matthias J. P., Börnert, Peter
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Algorithms; Chemical equilibrium; chemical shift encoding; Data acquisition; diffusion; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Distortion; Echo-Planar Imaging; Flexibility; Humans; Image acquisition; Image Enhancement - methods; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted - methods; Image quality; Image reconstruction; Imaging Methodology; Male; Medical imaging; Middle Aged; multishot EPI; Parameter identification; Phase variations; Prostate; Prostate - diagnostic imaging; Prostate cancer; Prostatic Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; structured low rank
• ISSN: 0740-3194; 1522-2594; 1522-2594
• DOI: 10.1002/mrm.30334

Purpose DWI is an important contrast for prostate MRI to enable early and accurate detection of cancer. This study introduces a Dixon 3‐shot‐EPI protocol with structured low‐rank reconstruction for navigator‐free DWI. The aim is to overcome the limitations of single‐shot EPI (ssh‐EPI), such as geometric distortions and fat signal interference, while addressing the motion‐induced phase variations of multishot EPI and simultaneously allowing water/fat separation. Methods DWI data were acquired from 7 healthy volunteers using both Dixon 3‐shot EPI and standard fat‐suppressed ssh‐EPI with similar scan times for comparison. Two readers evaluated image quality using a 5‐point Likert scale regarding different aspects. The ADC values were quantitatively compared between protocols. To show feasibility in a clinical setting, the protocol was applied to two patients. Results From the reader scores, Dixon 3‐shot EPI significantly reduced geometric distortion compared with ssh‐EPI (p