The Influence for Image Quality of Diffusion Weighted Image by Gradient Coil Systems

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence for image quality of diffusion weighted image (DWI) by gradient coil systems (two single gradient systems and a dual gradient system). We obtained DWIs of a phantom and three volunteer brains, changing gradient coil systems and echo time (TE) from configurable shortest TE to 130 ms. Image quality of DWI was evaluated by signal to noise ratio (SNR), image distortion, susceptibility artifact, and visual evaluation. SNR of dual gradient system and configurable shortest TE was the highest in phantom study, but there was no difference for SNR of volunteer brain images by each gradient coil system in visual evaluation. Image distortion of single gradient system with low gradient amplitude was the worst in phantom study, and the score of visual evaluation in susceptibility artifact was significantly lower than other gradient coil systems. Dual gradient system was low influence to image distortion and susceptibility artifact. In conclusion, using dual gradient system and configurable shortest TE is recommended for less distortion, low susceptibility artifact, and high SNR image.