Objective To investigates the feasibility of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and diffusion tensor tracking (DTT) for evaluation of the effect of childbearing history on female pelvic floor muscles. Methods Forty-six healthy females were divided into two groups: nulliparous and primiparous. MR conventional sequences and DTI were acquired. The optimized FA threshold value was obtained by regulating the FA to fiber tracking. The two groups were compared in terms of ADC, FA, VRA and T2-WT. Results (1)The DTT of FA 0.18 got the highest score in fiber tracking . ( 2 ) The ADC of nulliparous subjects and the subjects who had given birth were (1.24 ± 0.11) ×10-3 mm2/s, (1.33 ± 0.11) ×10-3 mm2/s (P = 0.017). There were no statistical differences in FA, VRA and T2-WT between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusions The optimized FA threshold of fiber tracking in pelvic floor muscles is 0.18. DTI and DTT may be used to evaluate the effect of childbearing history on female pelvic floor muscles.

Objective To evaluate the value of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)in the assessment of uterine fibroids by analyzing uterine fibroids and normal myometrium.Methods Forty-four patients with uterine fibroids confirmed by surgery were included in this study.DTI was performed using double gradient GE HDxt 3.0T and HD Cardiac coil.All data were transferred to GE AW4.5 Workstation software for data processing.Apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC),fractional aniso(FA),volume ratio aniso(VRA)and T2-weighted trace of uterine fibroids and normal myometrium were recorded.Diffusion tensor tractography (DTT)of uterine fibroids and normal myometrium were reconstructed and observed.The ADC,FA,VRA and T2-weighted trace of different regions of interest (ROI)were compared between uterine fibroids and normal myometrium.Results The ADC,FA,VRA and T2-weighted trace of uterine fibroids and normal myometrium were (1.65±0.32)×10 -9 mm2/s and (1.21±0.97)×10 -9 mm2/s,0.20±0.08 and 0.28±0.08,0.05 ± 0.05 and 0.09±0.07,344.22±66.1 9 and 318.97±98.48,respectively.The ADC of normal myometrium was higher than that of uterine fibroids (P =0.009).The FA and VRA of normal myometrium were lower than those of uterine fibroids (P =0.000,P =0.005). There was no statistically significant difference of T2-weighted trace between uterine fibroids and normal myometrium (P =0.1 74). There were obvious differences between uterine fibroids and normal myometrium in direction,arrangement and number of fibers. Conclusion DTI can be used to evaluate the structure difference between uterine fibroids and normal myometrium,which has the potential to improve assessment value of MRI for uterine fibroids.

Objective To explore the value of enhanced T2 star weighted angiography(ESWAN)in the treatment of uterine fibroids with high intensity focus ultrasound(HIFU) by analyzing the changes of ESWAN. Methods Uterine fibroids were detected through pelvic conventional MRI and ESWAN 1 day before and after HIFU operation. Different indexes of ESWAN were measured ,and differences were compared with the paired t-test. Results The preoperative and postoperative values of magnitude were 1624.59 ± 53.07 and 1750.13 ± 39.81, phase values were 0.0012 ± 0.0081 Hz and 0.0025 ± 0.1063 Hz,R2*value were 27.69 ± 1.27 Hz and 24.19 ± 1.20 Hz,and T2*values were 34.66 ± 2.07 ms and 36.46 ± 2.14 ms. After HIFU operation,magnitude value,phase value and T2*value were higher(P=0.04,P=0.91 and P=0.45),and R2*value was lower(P=0.019). Conclusions ESWAN can provide more information about histopathologic changes of uterine fibroids after HIFU.

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of ESWAN in uterine fibroids by analyzing the ESWAN signal of uterine fibroid. Methods Conventional MRI and ESWAN were carried out in thirty-seven patients with uterine fibroids.The differences of ESWAN indexes between uterine fibroids and myometrium were analyzed by paired t-test.The value of ESWAN on diagnosing uterine fibroids was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC curve).Results The magnitude value,phase value,R2* value and T2*value of uterine fibroids were 1 661.69 ± 45.24,(0.006 7 ± 0.007 7)Hz,(26.69 ± 1.04)Hz and(34.68 ± 1.73)ms,respectively.The magnitude value,phase value,R2* value and T2* value of myometrium were 1 790.95 ± 49.04,(0.013 1 ± 0.011 8)Hz,(22.35 ± 0.84)Hz and(42.53 ± 2.16)ms.The magnitude value,phase value and T2* value of uterine fibroids were lower than those of myometrium (P=0.008,P=0.659 and P=0.002).While the R2* value of of uterine fibroids was higher than that of myometrium(P=0.001). The area under curve(AUC)of magnitude value,phase value,R2* value and T2* value were 0.604,0.553,0.666 and 0.662.Conclusion ESWAN can show the differences between uterine fibroids and myometrium ，while the ability to independently diagnose uterine fibroids was modest.