Feasibility study of using simultaneous multi-slice RESOLVE diffusion weighted imaging to assess parotid gland tumors: comparison with conventional RESOLVE diffusion weighted imaging

Jia-Suo Jiang,Wei Liu,Yi Sun,Qian Wu,Liu-Ning Zhu,Fei-Yun Wu,Xiao-Quan Xu

doi:10.1186/s12880-020-00492-1

Abstract

BackgroundTo evaluate the feasibility of using simultaneous multi-slice (SMS) readout segmentation of long variable echo-trains (RESOLVE) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) to assess parotid gland tumors, compared with conventional RESOLVE DWI.MethodsFrom September 2018 to December 2018, 20 consecutive patients with parotid tumors who underwent MRI scan for pre-surgery evaluation were enrolled. SMS-RESOLVE DWI and conventional RESOLVE DWI were scanned with matched imaging parameters, respectively. The scan time of two DWI sequences was recorded. Qualitative (anatomical structure differentiation, lesion display, artifact, and overall image quality) and quantitative (apparent diffusion coefficient, ADC; ratio of signal-to-noise ratio, SNR ratio; ratio of contrast-to-noise ratio, CNR ratio) assessments of image quality were performed, and compared between SMS-RESOLVE DWI and conventional RESOLVE DWI by using Paired t-test. Two-sided P value less than 0.05 indicated significant difference.ResultsThe scan time was 3 min and 41 s for SMS-RESOLVE DWI, and 5 min and 46 s for conventional RESOLVE DWI. SMS-RESOLVE DWI produced similar qualitative image quality with RESOLVE DWI (anatomical structure differentiation, P = 0.164; lesion display, P = 0.193; artifact, P = 0.330; overall image quality, P = 0.083). Meanwhile, there were no significant difference on ADCLesion (P = 0.298), ADCMasseter (P = 0.122), SNR ratio (P = 0.584) and CNR ratio (P = 0.217) between two DWI sequences.ConclusionCompared with conventional RESOLVE DWI, SMS-RESOLVE DWI could provide comparable image quality using markedly reduced scan time. SMS could increase the clinical usability of RESOLVE technique for DWI of parotid gland.

Highlights

To evaluate the feasibility of using simultaneous multi-slice (SMS) readout segmentation of long variable echo-trains (RESOLVE) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) to assess parotid gland tumors, compared with conventional RESOLVE DWI
Is usually scanned using Single-shot echo-planar imaging (SS-EPI) technique because of the fast scan speed, it is prone to geometric distortion, image blurring, and image artifacts, which is more severe in head and neck region [7]
The improvement in image quality is achieved at the cost of longer acquisition time, which is a potential drawback limiting the wide application of RESOLVE DWI in clinical practice

Summary

Introduction

To evaluate the feasibility of using simultaneous multi-slice (SMS) readout segmentation of long variable echo-trains (RESOLVE) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) to assess parotid gland tumors, compared with conventional RESOLVE DWI. Single-shot echo-planar imaging (SSEPI) is commonly used for DWI scan. Despite the scan speed is fast, SS-EPI based DWI is prone to geometric distortions, image blurring and susceptibility artifacts [7]. Readout segmentation of long variable echo-trains (RESOLVE) based DWI attracts increasing attention. It can significantly reduce distortions and artifacts, it was restricted for the long scanning time [7,8,9,10,11,12]

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Discussion

Conclusion