MRI扩散加权成像在前列腺良恶性结节诊断中的应用

目的:研究MRI扩散加权成像在前列腺良恶性结节诊断中的价值。方法:选取我院2016年5月至2018年3月收治的前列腺结节患者200例为对象,进行常规MRI扫描和扩散加权成像(Diffusion weighted imaging,DWI)后,收集整理检查结果,分析两种影像学方法的诊断准确率等。结果:MRI平扫诊断前列腺增生和前列腺癌的准确率均低于DWI的诊断准确率(P0.05)。前列腺增生患者的表观扩散系数(Apparent diffusion coefficient,ADC)值明显高于前列腺癌患者的ADC值(P0.05)。在不同b值下的ADC值方面,前列腺癌均明显低于前列腺增生(P0.05)。结论:MRI扩散加权成像技术在前列腺良恶性结节诊断中应用价值高,能鉴别诊断结节的良恶性,有助于指导术前分期、治疗等,值得推广。     

体素内不相干运动弥散加权成像在受压腰骶神经根诊断中的应用

目的 探讨MR体素内不相干运动(IVIM)弥散加权成像(DWI)在受压腰骶神经根诊断中应用的可行性。方法 前瞻性对照研究。纳入2017年4—10月30例腰椎间盘突出致神经根受压患者(观察组)的常规腰椎MR序列及3D-Fiesta序列、IVIM-DWI序列图像;另按性别、年龄匹配纳入30名健康志愿者作为对照组。在GE ADW 4.6工作站,使用MADC软件包测量对照组双侧L₄、L₅、S₁神经节的扩散系数(D)、灌注相关扩散系数(D*)、灌注分数(f)和表观扩散系数(ADC)值,以及观察组患者受压侧及其对侧神经根的D、D*、f、ADC值。比较对照组同节段左右两侧神经节和不同节段神经节各观察项目测量值,以及观察组受压侧神经根与对侧正常神经根各观察项目测量值。绘制受压神经根D值和ADC值的ROC曲线,评价诊断效果。结果 对照组L₄、L₅、S₁神经根的D值分别为(0.603±0.064)×10^-3 mm²/s、(0.624±0.079)×10^-3 mm²/s、(0.628±0.088) ×10^-3 mm²/s, D*值分别为(3.815±0.541) ×10^-3 mm²/s、(3.862±0.414)×10^-3 mm²/s、(3.915±0.611) ×10^-3 mm²/s; f值分别为0.454%±0.076%、0.484%±0.101%、0.445%±0.094%; ADC值分别为(0.934±0.085)×10^-3 mm²/s、(0.945±0.051)×10^-3 mm²/s、(0.953±0.064)×10^-3 mm²/s。观察组神经根受压侧D、D*、f、ADC值分别为(0.669±0.081)×10^-3 mm²/s、(3.852±0.776)×10^-3 mm²/s、0.528%±0.115%、(1.096±0.087)×10^-3 mm²/s,健侧D、D*、f、ADC值分别为(0.617±0.080)×10^-3 mm²/s、(3.961±0.684)×10^-3 mm²/s、0.479%±0.083%、(0.938±0.074)×10^-3 mm²/s。对照组同节段左右两侧神经节和不同节段神经节所测D、D*、f、ADC值,差异均无统计学意义(P值均＞0.05)。观察组受压侧神经根与对侧正常神经根比较:D和ADC值均升高,差异均有统计学意义(P值均＜0.01);D*、f值差异均无统计学意义(P值均＞0.05)。绘制并分析ROC曲线,D值对诊断神经根受压具有较高效能,其次是ADC值,D值的AUC为0.923(95%CI 0.803~0.987),ADC值的 AUC为0.895(95%CI 0.865~0.999)。结论 IVIM模型的MR DWI技术可用于腰骶神经根检查,且与单指数模型的MR DWI相比能更详细、准确地反映神经根受压后的病理改变。     

扩散加权磁共振成像在急性脑梗死诊断中的价值

目的：探讨扩散加权磁共振成像在急性脑梗死诊断中的价值。方法：采用Philips Gyroscan Intera 1．5T磁共振系统．对19例临床诊断为急性脑梗死的患者行扩散加权磁共振成像(MRI—DWI)，并与常规MRI结果比较，其中男11例，女8例，年龄35～70岁，平均年龄52．5岁。结果：19例患者中，MRI—DWI在发病6h以内提示急性脑梗死者17例，DWI和常规MRl的敏感性分别为100％和5．88％，其特异性均为100％，2例排除了脑梗死。结论：扩散加权磁共振成像对6h以内发病的急性脑梗死的诊断明显高于常规MRI，并对脑梗死的临床治疗有指导意义。     

扩散加权成像技术在HIE患儿预后评估中的价值

目的探讨扩散加权成像技术在新生儿缺氧缺血性脑病（HIE）预后评估中的价值。方法回顾性分析96例临床确诊为HIE患儿的所得资料。将96例患儿分为A组和B组,A组采用常规核磁检查,B组采用扩散加权成像技术检查。观察两种检查方法在HIE诊断中的影像学特点,并随访患儿的预后。结果两组患儿一般情况比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。A组检出影像学变化21例,随访预后不良7例,B组检出影像学变化32例,随访预后不良19例;B组HIE患儿的预后评估价值明显高于A组（P〈0.05）。结论扩散加权成像可充分反映HIE患儿的病理变化和脑损害,对评估HIE患儿的预后具有一定的应用价值,有利于临床及早采取干预治疗措施。     

扩散加权成像在超急性、急性脑梗死中的诊断价值

目的通过与T2加权成像(T2-weighted imaging,T2WI)、T1加权成像(T1-weighted imaging,T1WI)进行比较,探讨磁共振扩散加权成像(diffusion-weighted imaging,DWI)及表观扩散系数(apparentdiffusion coeffecient,ADC)在超急性、急性脑梗死诊断中的应用价值。材料与方法应用单次激发SE-EPI(echoplanar imaging)序列进行DWI扫描和常规MR扫描,对临床40例脑梗死患者进行检查,观察病灶在DWI上的信号特点并测定病灶的ADC值。结果40例病例中超急性期(0~6h)脑梗死6例、急性期(7~24h)脑梗死34例均在DWI上呈高信号,在ADC图上呈低信号,平均ADC值为(0.689±1.04)×10-3mm2/s。结论DWI及ADC对急性、超急性脑梗死的诊断较常规MR更早、更准确,尤其是对超急性脑诊断,而且能准确反应出缺血半暗带的相应病理生理变化。     

IVIM-DWI参数在乳腺癌诊断中的应用及其与免疫组织化学指标表达的关系

目的:研究体素内不相干运动扩散加权成像(intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging,IVIM-DWI)参数在乳腺癌诊断中的应用及其与免疫组织化学指标表达的关系.方法:回顾性分析2019年12月至2020年12月徐州医科大学附属连云港医院收治的70例疑似...     

3.0T多b值弥散加权成像在前列腺癌与前列腺增生鉴别诊断中的应用

目的评价3.0T MRI多b值弥散加权成像（DWI）在前列腺癌（PCa）与前列腺增生（BPH）鉴别诊断中的应用价值。方法该研究获得伦理委员会核准。选择经临床病理学证实12例PCa（20个病灶）和9例BPH（15个病灶）男性患者,其中PCa患者年龄56～83岁,平均年龄71.08岁;BPH患者年龄65～83岁,平均年龄71.78岁。回顾分析21例患者3.0 T MRI多b值DWI表现。多b值DWI扫描使用盆腔8通道相控阵线圈,采用EPI-STIR序列,并行采集技术,b值分别为0、300、600、900、1 200、1 500、1 800、2 100 s/mm2,扫描时间260 s。利用GE Functool 4.4工作站测量多b值DWI上PCa和BPH不同b值时的信号强度,描绘其b值-信号强度曲线并计算曲线斜率和信号衰减率（Sde）,测量标准表观弥散系数（ADC）值,对比PCa和BPH的b值-信号强度曲线斜率、Sde和标准ADC值。结果 b值为0、300、600、900、1 200、1 500、1 800、2 100 s/mm2时,PCa的信号强度分别为（520.41±156.11）、（345.43±89.29）、（262.06±74.85）、（212.63±78.87）、（182.14±75.56）、（156.98±73.24）、（137.31±68.26）、（120.11±63.08）MR unit;BPH的信号强度分别为（605.71±146.32）、（357.83±84.91）、（221.44±65.62）、（177.04±55.58）、（145.02±53.43）、（116.39±59.26）、（98.03±56.42）、（86.11±53.62）MRunit,各个b值时PCa和BPH的信号强度差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）;PCa的b值-信号曲线斜率为50.01±18.86,BPH为64.95±21.25,PCa者低于BPH者,二者之间的差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）;PCa和BPH的Sde分别为76.43%±11.38%和88.54%±3.68%;标准ADC值分别为（×10-3mm2/s）0.588±0.135和1.11±0.15,PCa的Sde和标准ADC值明显低于BPH者,二者之间的差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论 3.0 T MRI多b值DWI中b值-信号曲线Sde及标准ADC值对无创鉴别PCa和BPH有帮助。     

扩散加权成像（DWI）在肝硬化后脾脏增大的研究

目的探讨扩散加权成像ADC值在正常脾脏与肝硬化后脾肿大间的差异。方法对12例正常志愿者及20例肝硬化脾肿大者行常规MRI平扫及扩散加权成像检查。结果正常脾脏平均ADC值为1.45×10-3mm2/s,肿大脾平均ADC值为1.49×10-3mm2/s。结论正常脾脏与肝硬化后脾肿大的ADC值间无统计学差异。     

扩散加权成像技术在HIE诊断中的临床应用

目的研究扩散加权成像技术在新生儿缺氧缺血性脑病（HIE）诊断中的临床应用。方法将96例临床确诊为HIE的患儿随机分为A组和B组,A组采用常规核磁检查,B组采用扩散加权成像技术检查。观察两组患儿生后24h（早期）和生后1周（亚急性期）缺氧性脑损伤的阳性率,并随访患儿的预后。结果两组患儿一般情况比较差异无统计学意义（P〈0.05）。在HIE发病早期,A组阳性率为37.5%,B组阳性率为80.0%,两组比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;在HIE发病亚急性期,A组阳性率为100%,B组阳性率为100%,两组比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。A组检出影像学变化21例,随访预后不良7例;B组检出影像学变化32例,随访预后不良19例,B组对HIE患儿的预后评估价值明显高于A组（P〈0.05）。结论扩散加权成像主要反映HIE早期病理变化,可发现早期脑损害,利于临床治疗。常规核磁反映亚急性期病变较好,适宜做随访检查。     

扩散加权成像(DWI)在肝硬化后脾脏增大的研究

目的探讨扩散加权成像ADC值在正常脾脏与肝硬化后脾肿大间的差异.方法对12例正常志愿者及20例肝硬化脾肿大者行常规MRI平扫及扩散加权成像检查.结果正常脾脏平均ADC值为1.45×10-3mm2/s,肿大脾平均ADC值为1.49×10-3mm2/s.结论正常脾脏与肝硬化后脾肿大的ADC值间无统计学差异.     

Dynamic intravoxel incoherent motion imaging of skeletal muscle at rest and after exercise

The purpose of this work was to demonstrate the feasibility of intravoxel incoherent motion imaging (IVIM) for non‐invasive quantification of perfusion and diffusion effects in skeletal muscle at rest and following exercise. After IRB approval, eight healthy volunteers underwent diffusion‐weighted MRI of the forearm at 3 T and eight different b values between 0 and 500 s/mm² with a temporal resolution of 57 s per dataset. Dynamic images were acquired before and after a standardized handgrip exercise. Diffusion (D) and pseudodiffusion (D*) coefficients as well as the perfusion fraction (F_P) were measured in regions of interest in the flexor digitorum superficialis and profundus (FDS/FDP), brachioradialis, and extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis muscles by using a multi‐step bi‐exponential analysis in MATLAB. Parametrical maps were calculated voxel‐wise. Differences in D, D*, and F_P between muscle groups and between time points were calculated using a repeated measures analysis of variance with post hoc Bonferroni tests. Mean values and standard deviations at rest were the following: D*, 28.5 ± 11.4 × 10^?3 mm²/s; F_P, 0.03 ± 0.01; D, 1.45 ± 0.09 × 10^?3 mm²/s. Changes of IVIM parameters were clearly visible on the parametrical maps. In the FDS/FDP, D* increased by 289 ± 236% (p < 0.029), F_P by 138 ± 58% (p < 0.01), and D by 17 ± 9% (p < 0.01). A significant increase of IVIM parameters could also be detected in the brachioradialis muscle, which however was significantly lower than in the FDS/FDP. After 20 min, all parameters were still significantly elevated in the FDS/FDP but not in the brachioradialis muscle compared with the resting state. The IVIM approach allows simultaneous quantification of muscle perfusion and diffusion effects at rest and following exercise. It may thus provide a useful alternative to other non‐invasive methods such as arterial spin labeling. Possible fields of interest for this technique include perfusion‐related muscle diseases, such as peripheral arterial occlusive disease. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of intravoxel incoherent motion perfusion imaging to shoulder muscles after a lift‐off test of varying duration

Intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) MRI is a method to extract microvascular blood flow information out of diffusion‐weighted images acquired at multiple b‐values. We hypothesized that IVIM can identify the muscles selectively involved in a specific task, by measuring changes in activity‐induced local muscular perfusion after exercise. We tested this hypothesis using a widely used clinical maneuver, the lift‐off test, which is known to assess specifically the subscapularis muscle functional integrity. Twelve shoulders from six healthy male volunteers were imaged at 3 T, at rest, as well as after a lift‐off test hold against resistance for 30 s, 1 and 2 min respectively, in three independent sessions. IVIM parameters, consisting of perfusion fraction (f), diffusion coefficient (D), pseudo‐diffusion coefficient D* and blood flow‐related fD*, were estimated within outlined muscles of the rotator cuff and the deltoid bundles. The mean values at rest and after the lift‐off tests were compared in each muscle using a one‐way ANOVA. A statistically significant increase in fD* was measured in the subscapularis, after a lift‐off test of any duration, as well as in D. A fD* increase was the most marked (30 s, +103%; 1 min, +130%; 2 min, +156%) and was gradual with the duration of the test (in 10^‐3 mm²/s: rest, 1.41 ± 0.50; 30 s, 2.86 ± 1.17; 1 min, 3.23 ± 1.22; 2 min, 3.60 ± 1.21). A significant increase in fD* and D was also visible in the posterior bundle of the deltoid. No significant change was consistently visible in the other investigated muscles of the rotator cuff and the other bundles of the deltoid. In conclusion, IVIM fD* allows the demonstration of a task‐related microvascular perfusion increase after a specific task and suggests a direct relationship between microvascular perfusion and the duration of the effort. It is a promising method to investigate non‐invasively skeletal muscle physiology and clinical perfusion‐related muscular disorders. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reliable estimation of brain intravoxel incoherent motion parameters using denoised diffusion‐weighted MRI

In this study, we evaluate whether diffusion‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW‐MRI) data after denoising can provide a reliable estimation of brain intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) perfusion parameters. Brain DW‐MRI was performed in five healthy volunteers on a 3 T clinical scanner with 12 different b‐values ranging from 0 to 1000 s/mm². DW‐MRI data denoised using the proposed method were fitted with a biexponential model to extract perfusion fraction (PF), diffusion coefficient (D) and pseudo‐diffusion coefficient (D*). To further evaluate the accuracy and precision of parameter estimation, IVIM parametric images obtained from one volunteer were used to resimulate the DW‐MRI data using the biexponential model with the same b‐values. Rician noise was added to generate DW‐MRI data with various signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) levels. The experimental results showed that the denoised DW‐MRI data yielded precise estimates for all IVIM parameters. We also found that IVIM parameters were significantly different between gray matter and white matter (P < 0.05), except for D* (P = 0.6). Our simulation results show that the proposed image denoising method displays good performance in estimating IVIM parameters (both bias and coefficient of variation were <12% for PF, D and D*) in the presence of different levels of simulated Rician noise (SNR_b=0 = 20‐40). Simulations and experiments show that brain DW‐MRI data after denoising can provide a reliable estimation of IVIM parameters.     

Stroke assessment with intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion‐weighted MRI

Intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) diffusion‐weighted MRI can simultaneously measure diffusion and perfusion characteristics in a non‐invasive way. This study aimed to determine the potential utility of IVIM in characterizing brain diffusion and perfusion properties for clinical stroke. The multi‐b‐value diffusion‐weighted images of 101 patients diagnosed with acute/subacute ischemic stroke were retrospectively evaluated. The diffusion coefficient D, representing the water apparent diffusivity, was obtained by fitting the diffusion data with increasing high b‐values to a simple mono‐exponential model. The IVIM‐derived perfusion parameters, pseudodiffusion coefficient D*, vascular volume fraction f and blood flow‐related parameter fD*, were calculated with the bi‐exponential model. Additionally, the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was fitted according to the mono‐exponential model using all b‐values. The diffusion parameters for the ischemic lesion and normal contralateral region were measured in each patient. Statistical analysis was performed using the paired Student t‐test and Pearson correlation test. Diffusion data in both the ischemic lesion and normal contralateral region followed the IVIM bi‐exponential behavior, and the IVIM model showed better goodness of fit than the mono‐exponential model with lower Akaike information criterion values. The paired Student t‐test revealed significant differences for all diffusion parameters (all P < 0.001) except D* (P = 0.218) between ischemic and normal areas. For all patients in both ischemic and normal regions, ADC was significantly positively correlated with D (both r = 1, both P < 0.001) and f (r = 0.541, P < 0.001; r = 0.262, P = 0.008); significant correlation was also found between ADC and fD* in the ischemic region (r = 0.254, P = 0.010). For all pixels within the region of interest from a representative subject in both ischemic and normal regions, ADC was significantly positively correlated with D (both r = 1, both P < 0.001), f (r = 0.823, P < 0.001; r = 0.652, P < 0.001) and fD* (r = 0.294, P < 0.001; r = 0.340, P < 0.001). These findings may have clinical implications for the use of IVIM imaging in the assessment and management of acute/subacute stroke patients. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Diffusion parameter mapping with the combined intravoxel incoherent motion and kurtosis model using artificial neural networks at 3 T

Artificial neural networks (ANNs) were used for voxel‐wise parameter estimation with the combined intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) and kurtosis model facilitating robust diffusion parameter mapping in the human brain. The proposed ANN approach was compared with conventional least‐squares regression (LSR) and state‐of‐the‐art multi‐step fitting (LSR‐MS) in Monte‐Carlo simulations and in vivo in terms of estimation accuracy and precision, number of outliers and sensitivity in the distinction between grey (GM) and white (WM) matter. Both the proposed ANN approach and LSR‐MS yielded visually increased parameter map quality. Estimations of all parameters (perfusion fraction f, diffusion coefficient D, pseudo‐diffusion coefficient D*, kurtosis K) were in good agreement with the literature using ANN, whereas LSR‐MS resulted in D* overestimation and LSR yielded increased values for f and D*, as well as decreased values for K. Using ANN, outliers were reduced for the parameters f (ANN, 1%; LSR‐MS, 19%; LSR, 8%), D* (ANN, 21%; LSR‐MS, 25%; LSR, 23%) and K (ANN, 0%; LSR‐MS, 0%; LSR, 15%). Moreover, ANN enabled significant distinction between GM and WM based on all parameters, whereas LSR facilitated this distinction only based on D and LSR‐MS on f, D and K. Overall, the proposed ANN approach was found to be superior to conventional LSR, posing a powerful alternative to the state‐of‐the‐art method LSR‐MS with several advantages in the estimation of IVIM–kurtosis parameters, which might facilitate increased applicability of enhanced diffusion models at clinical scan times.     

Assessment of diffusion parameters by intravoxel incoherent motion MRI in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

The objectives of this study were to assess the diffusion parameters derived from intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) MRI in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and to investigate the agreement between different methods of tumor delineation and two numerical methods to extract the perfusion fraction f. Thirty‐seven untreated patients with histopathologically confirmed primary HNSCC were included retrospectively in the study. The entire volume of the primary tumor was outlined on diffusion‐weighted images using co‐registered morphological images as a guide to the tumor location. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and IVIM diffusion parameters were estimated considering the largest tumor section as well as the entire tumor volume. A bi‐exponential fit was implemented to extract f, D (pure diffusion coefficient) and D* (pseudo‐diffusion coefficient). A second simplified method, based on an asymptotic extrapolation, was used to determine f. The agreement between ADC and IVIM diffusion parameters derived from the delineation of single and multiple slices, and between the two f estimations, was assessed by Bland–Altman plots. The inter‐slice variability of ADC and IVIM diffusion parameters was evaluated. The Kruskal–Wallis test was used to investigate whether the tumor location had a statistically significant influence on the values of the parameters. Comparing the tumor delineation methods, a better accordance was found for ADC and D, with a mean percentage difference of less than 2%. Larger discrepancies were found for f and D*, with mean differences of 4.5% and 5.5%, respectively. When comparing the two f estimation methods, small mean differences were found (<3.5%), suggesting that the two methods may be considered as equivalent for the assessment of f in our patient population. The observed ADC and IVIM diffusion parameters were dependent on the anatomic site of the lesion, carcinoma of the nasopharynx showing more homogeneous and dissimilar estimations than other HNSCCs. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Interstitial fluid pressure correlates with intravoxel incoherent motion imaging metrics in a mouse mammary carcinoma model

The effective delivery of a therapeutic drug to the core of a tumor is often impeded by physiological barriers, such as the interstitial fluid pressure (IFP). There are a number of therapies that can decrease IFP and induce tumor vascular normalization. However, a lack of a noninvasive means to measure IFP hinders the utilization of such a window of opportunity for the maximization of the treatment response. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) diffusion parameters as noninvasive imaging biomarkers for IFP. Mice bearing the 4T1 mammary carcinoma model were studied using diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI), immediately followed by wick‐in‐needle IFP measurement. Voxelwise analysis was conducted with a conventional monoexponential diffusion model, as well as a biexponential model taking IVIM into account. There was no significant correlation of IFP with either the median apparent diffusion coefficient from the monoexponential model (r = 0.11, p = 0.78) or the median tissue diffusivity from the biexponential model (r = 0.30, p = 0.44). However, IFP was correlated with the median pseudo‐diffusivity (D_p) of apparent vascular voxels (r = 0.76, p = 0.02) and with the median product of the perfusion fraction and pseudo‐diffusivity (f_pD_p) of apparent vascular voxels (r = 0.77, p = 0.02). Although the effect of IVIM in tumors has been reported previously, to our knowledge, this study represents the first direct comparison of IVIM metrics with IFP, with the results supporting the feasibility of the use of IVIM DWI metrics as noninvasive biomarkers for tumor IFP. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Differentiating the histologic grades of gliomas preoperatively using amide proton transfer‐weighted (APTW) and intravoxel incoherent motion MRI

The purpose of this work was to investigate the diagnostic performance of amide proton transfer‐weighted (APTW) and intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the preoperative grading of gliomas. Fifty‐one patients with suspected gliomas were recruited and underwent a preoperative MRI examination that included APTW and IVIM sequences. All cases were confirmed by postsurgical histopathology. APTW signal intensity, true diffusion coefficient (D), perfusion fraction (f) and pseudo‐diffusion coefficient (D*) were applied to assess the solid tumor component and contralateral normal‐appearing white matter. The relative APTW signal intensity (rAPTW) was also used. Independent‐sample and paired‐sample t‐tests were used to compare differences in MRI parameters between low‐grade glioma (LGG) and high‐grade glioma (HGG) groups. The diagnostic performance was assessed with the receiver operating characteristic curve. Twenty‐six patients were pathologically diagnosed with LGG and 25 were diagnosed with HGG. APTW, rAPTW and f values were significantly higher (all p < 0.001), whereas D values were significantly lower (p < 0.001) in the HGG group than in the LGG group. There was no significant difference between D* values for the two groups. rAPTW had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.957, with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 84.6%, followed by APTW, f, D and D*. The combined use of APTW and IVIM showed the best diagnostic performance, with an AUC of 0.986. In conclusion, APTW and IVIM, as two promising supplementary sequences for routine MRI, could be valuable in differentiating LGGs from HGGs.     

Pattern recognition analysis of directional intravoxel incoherent motion MRI in ischemic rodent brains

This study aimed to demonstrate a reliable automatic segmentation method for independently separating reduced diffusion and decreased perfusion areas in ischemic stroke brains using constrained nonnegative matrix factorization (cNMF) pattern recognition in directional intravoxel incoherent motion MRI (IVIM‐MRI). First, the feasibility of cNMF‐based segmentation of IVIM signals was investigated in both simulations and in vivo experiments. The cNMF analysis was independently performed for S₀‐normalized and scaled (by the difference between the maximum and minimum) IVIM signals, respectively. Segmentations of reduced diffusion (from S₀‐normalized IVIM signals) and decreased perfusion (from scaled IVIM signals) areas were performed using the corresponding cNMF pattern weight maps. Second, Monte Carlo simulations were performed for directional IVIM signals to investigate the relationship between the degree of vessel alignment and the direction of the diffusion gradient. Third, directional IVIM‐MRI experiments (x, y and z diffusion‐gradient directions, 20 b values at 7 T) were performed for normal (n = 4), sacrificed (n = 1, no flow) and ischemic stroke models (n = 4, locally reduced flow). The results showed that automatic segmentation of the hypoperfused lesion using cNMF analysis was more accurate than segmentation using the conventional double‐exponential fitting. Consistent with the simulation, the double‐exponential pattern of the IVIM signals was particularly strong in white matter and ventricle regions when the directional flows were aligned with the applied diffusion‐gradient directions. cNMF analysis of directional IVIM signals allowed robust automated segmentation of white matter, ventricle, vascular and hypoperfused regions in the ischemic brain. In conclusion, directional IVIM signals were simultaneously sensitive to diffusion and aligned flow and were particularly useful for automatically segmenting ischemic lesions via cNMF‐based pattern recognition.     

Relationship between diffusion parameters derived from intravoxel incoherent motion MRI and perfusion measured by dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI of soft tissue tumors

Our aim was to evaluate the link between diffusion parameters measured by intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) and the perfusion metrics obtained with dynamic contrast‐enhanced (DCE) MRI in soft tissue tumors (STTs). Twenty‐eight patients affected by histopathologically confirmed STT were included in a prospective study. All patients underwent both DCE MRI and IVIM DWI. The perfusion fraction f, diffusion coefficient D and perfusion‐related diffusion coefficient D* were estimated using a bi‐exponential function to fit the DWI data. DCE MRI was acquired with a temporal resolution of 3–5 s. Maps of the initial area under the gadolinium concentration curve (IAUGC), time to peak (TTP) and maximum slope of increase (MSI) were derived using commercial software. The relationships between the DCE MRI and IVIM DWI measurements were assessed by Spearman's test. To exclude false positive results under multiple testing, the false discovery rate (FDR) procedure was applied. The Mann–Whitney test was used to evaluate the differences between all variables in patients with non‐myxoid and myxoid STT. No significant relationship was found between IVIM parameters and any DCE MRI parameters. Higher f and D*f values were found in non‐myxoid tumors compared with myxoid tumors (p = 0.004 and p = 0.003, respectively). MSI was significantly higher in non‐myxoid tumors than in myxoid tumors (p = 0.029). From the visual assessments of single clinical cases, both f and D*f maps were in satisfactory agreement with DCE maps in the extreme cases of an avascular mass and a highly vascularized mass, whereas, for tumors with slight vascularity or with a highly heterogeneous perfusion pattern, this association was not straightforward. Although IVIM DWI was demonstrated to be feasible in STT, our data did not support evident relationships between perfusion‐related IVIM parameters and perfusion measured by DCE MRI. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.