Simplified intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted MRI of liver lesions: feasibility of combined two-colour index maps

Combined diffusion and perfusion index maps from simplified intravoxel incoherent motion imaging enable visual assessment of breast lesions

The aim was to evaluate visual breast lesion assessment using single binary index maps (IDf) in comparison to the use of combined regions of interest (ROI) analysis of estimated diffusion coefficient (D') AND perfusion fraction (f'), which proved to be the best method in a previous simplified intravoxel incoherent motion DWI, if diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is used as stand-alone tool. IDf, was constructed voxel-wise from cut-off values of D' and f'. The cut-off values, the data of 105 malignant and 86 benign lesions and the ROIs were re-used. For visual assessment, IDf was displayed as two-colour b800 overlay with red representing "malignant" and green "benign" voxels. A lesion was rated as "malignant", if a red hot spot was found within translucent hyperintensity on b800, otherwise as "benign". Intraindividual comparison of quantitative analysis and visual assessment of IDf showed comparable accuracy, both to each other and to combined ROI-analysis of D' and f' maps (0.927 vs. 0.937, p = 0.157, and 0.921 vs. 0.937, p = 0.157, respectively). Thus, visual assessment of IDf can replace combined ROI analysis of D' and f' without loss in accuracy enabling a considerable facilitation in clinical routine.

Simplified intravoxel incoherent motion DWI for differentiating malignant from benign breast lesions

Background

To evaluate simplified intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for differentiating malignant versus benign breast lesions as (i) stand-alone tool and (ii) add-on to dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.

Methods

1.5-T DWI data (b = 0, 50, 250, 800 s/mm²) were retrospectively analysed for 126 patients with malignant or benign breast lesions. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) ADC (0, 800) and IVIM-based parameters D₁′ = ADC (50, 800), D₂′ = ADC (250, 800), f₁′ = f (0, 50, 800), f₂′ = f (0, 250, 800) and D*′ = D* (0, 50, 250, 800) were voxel-wise calculated without fitting procedures. Regions of interest were analysed in vital tumour and perfusion hot spots. Beside the single parameters, the combined use of D₁′ with f₁′ and D₂′ with f₂′ was evaluated. Lesion differentiation was investigated for lesions (i) with hyperintensity on DWI with b = 800 s/mm² (n = 191) and (ii) with suspicious contrast-enhancement (n = 135).

Results

All lesions with suspicious contrast-enhancement appeared also hyperintense on DWI with b = 800 s/mm². For task (i), best discrimination was reached for the combination of D₁′ and f₁′ using perfusion hot spot regions-of-interest (accuracy 93.7%), which was higher than that of ADC (86.9%, p = 0.003) and single IVIM parameters D₁′ (88.0%) and f₁′ (87.4%). For task (ii), best discrimination was reached for single parameter D₁′ using perfusion hot spot regions-of-interest (92.6%), which were slightly but not significantly better than that of ADC (91.1%) and D₂′ (88.1%). Adding f₁′ to D₁′ did not improve discrimination.

Conclusions

IVIM analysis yielded a higher accuracy than ADC. If stand-alone DWI is used, perfusion analysis is of special relevance.