Prostate Cancer Diffusion‐Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Does the Choice of Diffusion‐Weighting Level Matter?

• Published in: Journal of magnetic resonance imaging 2022-03, Vol.55 (3), p.842-853
• Main Authors: Maier, Stephan E., Wallström, Jonas, Langkilde, Fredrik, Johansson, Jens, Kuczera, Stefan, Hugosson, Jonas, Hellström, Mikael
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: apparent diffusion; apparent diffusion coefficient; apparent diffusion coefficient ratio; b-value; Biomarkers; Cancer and Oncology; Cancer och onkologi; coefficient ratio; coefficient values; Data acquisition; Diffusion; Diffusion coefficient; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Field strength; gleason score; Humans; Kurtosis; Lesions; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Male; mathematical-models; Medical imaging; mri; Noise; Noise measurement; Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging; peripheral zone; Prostate cancer; prostate peripheral zone; Prostatic Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Prostatic Neoplasms - pathology; Radiology; ratio; Reproducibility; Reproducibility of Results; Resonance; Retrospective Studies; Simulation; Statistical analysis; Statistical tests; time; Tissues; tumor; Tumors; Urologi och njurmedicin; Urology and Nephrology; water diffusion; Weighting
• ISSN: 1053-1807; 1522-2586
• DOI: 10.1002/jmri.27895

Background Diffusion‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging plays an important role in multiparametric assessment of prostate lesions. The derived apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) could be a useful quantitative biomarker for malignant growth, but lacks acceptance because of low reproducibility. Purpose To investigate the impact of the choice of diffusion‐weighting levels (b‐values) on contrast‐to‐noise ratio and quantitative measures in prostate diffusion‐weighted MRI. Study Type Retrospective and simulation based on published data. Subjects Patient cohort (21 men with Prostate Imaging‐Reporting and Data System (PI‐RADS) version 2 score ≥3) from a single‐center study. Field Strength/Sequence 3 T/diffusion‐weighted imaging with single‐shot echo‐planar imaging. Assessment Both clinical data and simulations based on previously acquired data were used to quantify the influence of b‐value choice in normal peripheral zone (PZ) and PZ tumor lesions. For clinical data, ADC was determined for different combinations of b‐values. Contrast‐to‐noise ratio and quantitative diffusion measures were simulated for a wide range of b‐values. Statistical Tests Tissue ADC and the lesion‐to‐normal tissue ADC ratios of different b‐value combinations were compared with paired two‐tailed Student's t‐tests. A P‐value