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Optimising diffusion-weighted imaging in the abdomen and pelvis: Comparison of image quality between monopolar and bipolar single-shot spin-echo echo-planar sequences

European Radiology, ISSN: 0938-7994, Vol: 20, Issue: 10, Page: 2422-2431
2010
  • 23
    Citations
  • 0
    Usage
  • 53
    Captures
  • 0
    Mentions
  • 0
    Social Media
Metric Options:   Counts1 Year3 Year

Metrics Details

  • Citations
    23
    • Citation Indexes
      23
  • Captures
    53

Article Description

Objective: To compare geometric distortion, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), efficacy of fat suppression and presence of artefact between monopolar (Stejskal and Tanner) and bipolar (twice-refocused, eddy-current-compensating) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) sequences in the abdomen and pelvis. Materials and methods: A semiquantitative distortion index (DI) was derived from the subtraction images with b=0 and 1,000 s/mm in a phantom and compared between the two sequences. Seven subjects were imaged with both sequences using four b values (0, 600, 900 and 1,050 s/mm) and SNR, ADC for different organs and fat-to-muscle signal ratio (FMR) were compared. Image quality was evaluated by two radiologists on a 5-point scale. Results: DI was improved in the bipolar sequence, indicating less geometric distortion. SNR was significantly lower for all tissues and b values in the bipolar images compared with the monopolar (p<0.05), whereas FMR was not statistically different. ADC in liver, kidney and sacrum was higher in the bipolar scheme compared to the monopolar (p<0.03), whereas in muscle it was lower (p=0.018). Image quality scores were higher for the bipolar sequence (p≤0.025). Conclusion: Artefact reduction makes the bipolar DWI sequence preferable in abdominopelvic applications, although the trade-off in SNR may compromise ADC measurements in muscle. © 2010 European Society of Radiology.

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