Effects of MR Parameter Changes on the Quantification of Diffusion Anisotropy and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient in Diffusion Tensor Imaging: Evaluation Using a Diffusional Anisotropic Phantom.
10.3348/kjr.2015.16.2.297
- Author:
Sang Joon KIM
1
;
Choong Gon CHOI
;
Jeong Kon KIM
;
Sung Cheol YUN
;
Geon Ho JAHNG
;
Ha Kyu JEONG
;
Eun Ju KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 138-736, Korea. sjkimjb@amc.seoul.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
Diffusion tensor imaging;
Fractional anisotropy;
Apparent diffusion coefficient;
Phantom study;
Magnetic resonance imaging
- MeSH:
Anisotropy;
Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*instrumentation/*methods;
Diffusion Tensor Imaging/*instrumentation/*methods;
Humans;
*Phantoms, Imaging;
Research Design;
Signal-To-Noise Ratio
- From:Korean Journal of Radiology
2015;16(2):297-303
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To validate the usefulness of a diffusional anisotropic capillary array phantom and to investigate the effects of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameter changes on diffusion fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) using the phantom. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Diffusion tensor imaging of a capillary array phantom was performed with imaging parameter changes, including voxel size, number of sensitivity encoding (SENSE) factor, echo time (TE), number of signal acquisitions, b-value, and number of diffusion gradient directions (NDGD), one-at-a-time in a stepwise-incremental fashion. We repeated the entire series of DTI scans thrice. The coefficients of variation (CoV) were evaluated for FA and ADC, and the correlation between each MR imaging parameter and the corresponding FA and ADC was evaluated using Spearman's correlation analysis. RESULTS: The capillary array phantom CoVs of FA and ADC were 7.1% and 2.4%, respectively. There were significant correlations between FA and SENSE factor, TE, b-value, and NDGD, as well as significant correlations between ADC and SENSE factor, TE, and b-value. CONCLUSION: A capillary array phantom enables repeated measurements of FA and ADC. Both FA and ADC can vary when certain parameters are changed during diffusion experiments. We suggest that the capillary array phantom can be used for quality control in longitudinal or multicenter clinical studies.
