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Fennessy FM, Maier SE. Quantitative diffusion MRI in prostate cancer: Image quality, what we can measure and how it improves clinical assessment. Eur J Radiol 2023; 167:111066. [PMID: 37651828 PMCID: PMC10623580 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2023.111066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Diffusion-weighted imaging is a dependable method for detection of clinically significant prostate cancer. In prostate tissue, there are several compartments that can be distinguished from each other, based on different water diffusion decay signals observed. Alterations in cell architecture, such as a relative increase in tumor infiltration and decrease in stroma, will influence the observed diffusion signal in a voxel due to impeded random motion of water molecules. The amount of restricted diffusion can be assessed quantitatively by measuring the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value. This is traditionally calculated using a monoexponential decay formula represented by the slope of a line produced between the logarithm of signal intensity decay plotted against selected b-values. However, the choice and number of b-values and their distribution, has a significant effect on the measured ADC values. There have been many models that attempt to use higher-order functions to better describe the observed diffusion signal decay, requiring an increased number and range of b-values. While ADC can probe heterogeneity on a macroscopic level, there is a need to optimize advanced diffusion techniques to better interrogate prostate tissue microstructure. This could be of benefit in clinical challenges such as identifying sparse tumors in normal prostate tissue or better defining tumor margins. This paper reviews the principles of diffusion MRI and novel higher order diffusion signal analysis techniques to improve the detection of prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona M Fennessy
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.
| | - Stephan E Maier
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Radiology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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Ueno Y, Tamada T, Sofue K, Murakami T. Diffusion and quantification of diffusion of prostate cancer. Br J Radiol 2022; 95:20210653. [PMID: 34538094 PMCID: PMC8978232 DOI: 10.1259/bjr.20210653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
For assessing a cancer treatment, and for detecting and characterizing cancer, Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is commonly used. The key in DWI's use extracranially has been due to the emergence of of high-gradient amplitude and multichannel coils, parallelimaging, and echo-planar imaging. The benefit has been fewer motion artefacts and high-quality prostate images.Recently, new techniques have been developed to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of DWI with fewer artefacts, allowing an increase in spatial resolution. For apparent diffusion coefficient quantification, non-Gaussian diffusion models have been proposed as additional tools for prostate cancer detection and evaluation of its aggressiveness. More recently, radiomics and machine learning for prostate magnetic resonance imaging have emerged as novel techniques for the non-invasive characterisation of prostate cancer. This review presents recent developments in prostate DWI and discusses its potential use in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiko Ueno
- Department of Radiology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Tamada
- Departmentof Radiology, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Japan
| | - Keitaro Sofue
- Department of Radiology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Takamichi Murakami
- Department of Radiology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
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Hernando D, Zhang Y, Pirasteh A. Quantitative diffusion MRI of the abdomen and pelvis. Med Phys 2021; 49:2774-2793. [PMID: 34554579 DOI: 10.1002/mp.15246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Diffusion MRI has enormous potential and utility in the evaluation of various abdominal and pelvic disease processes including cancer and noncancer imaging of the liver, prostate, and other organs. Quantitative diffusion MRI is based on acquisitions with multiple diffusion encodings followed by quantitative mapping of diffusion parameters that are sensitive to tissue microstructure. Compared to qualitative diffusion-weighted MRI, quantitative diffusion MRI can improve standardization of tissue characterization as needed for disease detection, staging, and treatment monitoring. However, similar to many other quantitative MRI methods, diffusion MRI faces multiple challenges including acquisition artifacts, signal modeling limitations, and biological variability. In abdominal and pelvic diffusion MRI, technical acquisition challenges include physiologic motion (respiratory, peristaltic, and pulsatile), image distortions, and low signal-to-noise ratio. If unaddressed, these challenges lead to poor technical performance (bias and precision) and clinical outcomes of quantitative diffusion MRI. Emerging and novel technical developments seek to address these challenges and may enable reliable quantitative diffusion MRI of the abdomen and pelvis. Through systematic validation in phantoms, volunteers, and patients, including multicenter studies to assess reproducibility, these emerging techniques may finally demonstrate the potential of quantitative diffusion MRI for abdominal and pelvic imaging applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Hernando
- Departments of Radiology and Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Yuxin Zhang
- Departments of Radiology and Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Ali Pirasteh
- Departments of Radiology and Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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Abstract
Prostate MRI has seen increasing interest in recent years and has led to the development of new MRI techniques and sequences to improve prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis which are reviewed in this article. Numerous studies have focused on improving image quality (segmented DWI) and faster acquisition (compressed sensing, k-t-SENSE, PROPELLER). An increasing number of studies have developed new quantitative and computer-aided diagnosis methods including artificial intelligence (PROSTATEx challenge) that mitigate the subjective nature of mpMRI interpretation. MR fingerprinting allows rapid, simultaneous generation of quantitative maps of multiple physical properties (T1, T2), where PCa are characterized by lower T1 and T2 values. New techniques like luminal water imaging (LWI), restriction spectrum imaging (RSI), VERDICT and hybrid multi-dimensional MRI (HM-MRI) have been developed for microstructure imaging, which provide information similar to histology. The distinct MR properties of tissue components and their change with the presence of cancer is used to diagnose prostate cancer. LWI is a T2-based imaging technique where long T2-component corresponding to luminal water is reduced in PCa. RSI and VERDICT are diffusion-based techniques where PCa is characterized by increased signal from intra-cellular restricted water and increased intracellular volume fraction, respectively, due to increased cellularity. VERDICT also reveal loss of extracellular-extravascular space in PCa due to loss of glandular structure. HM-MRI measures volumes of prostate tissue components, where PCa has reduced lumen and stromal and increased epithelium volume similar to results shown in histology. Similarly, molecular imaging using hyperpolarized 13C imaging has been utilized.
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Accelerated Segmented Diffusion-Weighted Prostate Imaging for Higher Resolution, Higher Geometric Fidelity, and Multi-b Perfusion Estimation. Invest Radiol 2019; 54:238-246. [PMID: 30601292 DOI: 10.1097/rli.0000000000000536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this study was to improve the geometric fidelity and spatial resolution of multi-b diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of the prostate. MATERIALS AND METHODS An accelerated segmented diffusion imaging sequence was developed and evaluated in 25 patients undergoing multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging examinations of the prostate. A reduced field of view was acquired using an endorectal coil. The number of sampled diffusion weightings, or b-factors, was increased to allow estimation of tissue perfusion based on the intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) model. Apparent diffusion coefficients measured with the proposed segmented method were compared with those obtained with conventional single-shot echo-planar imaging (EPI). RESULTS Compared with single-shot EPI, the segmented method resulted in faster acquisition with 2-fold improvement in spatial resolution and a greater than 3-fold improvement in geometric fidelity. Apparent diffusion coefficient values measured with the novel sequence demonstrated excellent agreement with those obtained from the conventional scan (R = 0.91 for bmax = 500 s/mm and R = 0.89 for bmax = 1400 s/mm). The IVIM perfusion fraction was 4.0% ± 2.7% for normal peripheral zone, 6.6% ± 3.6% for normal transition zone, and 4.4% ± 2.9% for suspected tumor lesions. CONCLUSIONS The proposed accelerated segmented prostate diffusion imaging sequence achieved improvements in both spatial resolution and geometric fidelity, along with concurrent quantification of IVIM perfusion.
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Bergen RV, Ryner L, Essig M. Field-map correction in read-out segmented echo planar imaging for reduced spatial distortion in prostate DWI for MRI-guided radiotherapy applications. Magn Reson Imaging 2019; 67:43-49. [PMID: 31843418 DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2019.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Revised: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 12/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Diffusion-weighted echo planar imaging (DW-EPI) suffers from geometric distortion due to low phase-encoding bandwidth. Read-out segmented echo planar imaging (RS-EPI) reduces distortion but residual distortion remains in extreme cases. Additional corrections need to be applied, especially for radiotherapy applications where a high degree of accuracy is needed. In this study the use of magnetic field map corrections are assessed in DW-EPI and RS-EPI, to reduce geometric uncertainty for MRI-guided radiotherapy applications. Magnetic field maps were calculated from gradient echo images and distortion corrections were applied to RS-EPI images. Distortions were assessed in a prostate phantom by comparing to the known geometry, and in vivo using a modified Hausdorff distance metric using a T2-weighted spin echo as ground truth. Across 10 patients, field map-corrected RS-EPI reduced maximum distortion by 5 mm on average compared to DW-EPI (σ = 1.9 mm). Geometric distortions were also reduced significantly using field mapping with RS-EPI, compared to RS-EPI alone (p ≤ 0.05). The increased geometric accuracy of these techniques can potentially allow diffusion-weighted images to be fused with other MR or CT images for radiotherapy treatment purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert V Bergen
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Manitoba, Canada; Medical Physics, CancerCare Manitoba, Canada
| | - Lawrence Ryner
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Manitoba, Canada; Medical Physics, CancerCare Manitoba, Canada.
| | - Marco Essig
- Department of Radiology, University of Manitoba, Canada
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Ogura A, Maeda F, Yahata S, Koyama D, Tsunoda F, Hayashi N, Motegi S, Yamamura K. Slow component apparent diffusion coefficient for prostate cancer: Comparison and correlation with pharmacokinetic evaluation from dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging. Magn Reson Imaging 2019; 58:14-17. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2019.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Revised: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 01/05/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Zhang Y, Holmes J, Rabanillo I, Guidon A, Wells S, Hernando D. Quantitative diffusion MRI using reduced field-of-view and multi-shot acquisition techniques: Validation in phantoms and prostate imaging. Magn Reson Imaging 2018; 51:173-181. [PMID: 29678540 DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2018.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Accepted: 04/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate the reproducibility of quantitative diffusion measurements obtained with reduced Field of View (rFOV) and Multi-shot EPI (msEPI) acquisitions, using single-shot EPI (ssEPI) as a reference. METHODS Diffusion phantom experiments, and prostate diffusion-weighted imaging in healthy volunteers and patients with known or suspected prostate cancer were performed across the three different sequences. Quantitative diffusion measurements of apparent diffusion coefficient, and diffusion kurtosis parameters (healthy volunteers), were obtained and compared across diffusion sequences (rFOV, msEPI, and ssEPI). Other possible confounding factors like b-value combinations and acquisition parameters were also investigated. RESULTS Both msEPI and rFOV have shown reproducible quantitative diffusion measurements relative to ssEPI; no significant difference in ADC was observed across pulse sequences in the standard diffusion phantom (p = 0.156), healthy volunteers (p ≥ 0.12) or patients (p ≥ 0.26). The ADC values within the non-cancerous central gland and peripheral zone of patients were 1.29 ± 0.17 × 10-3 mm2/s and 1.74 ± 0.23 × 10-3 mm2/s respectively. However, differences in quantitative diffusion parameters were observed across different number of averages for rFOV, and across b-value groups and diffusion models for all the three sequences. CONCLUSION Both rFOV and msEPI have the potential to provide high image quality with reproducible quantitative diffusion measurements in prostate diffusion MRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Zhang
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, WI, United States; Department of Radiology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - James Holmes
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Iñaki Rabanillo
- Laboratorio MR de Procesado de Imagen, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Arnaud Guidon
- Applications and Workflow, GE Healthcare, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Shane Wells
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Diego Hernando
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, WI, United States; Department of Radiology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, WI, United States.
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deSouza NM, Winfield JM, Waterton JC, Weller A, Papoutsaki MV, Doran SJ, Collins DJ, Fournier L, Sullivan D, Chenevert T, Jackson A, Boss M, Trattnig S, Liu Y. Implementing diffusion-weighted MRI for body imaging in prospective multicentre trials: current considerations and future perspectives. Eur Radiol 2018; 28:1118-1131. [PMID: 28956113 PMCID: PMC5811587 DOI: 10.1007/s00330-017-4972-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2016] [Revised: 05/24/2017] [Accepted: 06/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
For body imaging, diffusion-weighted MRI may be used for tumour detection, staging, prognostic information, assessing response and follow-up. Disease detection and staging involve qualitative, subjective assessment of images, whereas for prognosis, progression or response, quantitative evaluation of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) is required. Validation and qualification of ADC in multicentre trials involves examination of i) technical performance to determine biomarker bias and reproducibility and ii) biological performance to interrogate a specific aspect of biology or to forecast outcome. Unfortunately, the variety of acquisition and analysis methodologies employed at different centres make ADC values non-comparable between them. This invalidates implementation in multicentre trials and limits utility of ADC as a biomarker. This article reviews the factors contributing to ADC variability in terms of data acquisition and analysis. Hardware and software considerations are discussed when implementing standardised protocols across multi-vendor platforms together with methods for quality assurance and quality control. Processes of data collection, archiving, curation, analysis, central reading and handling incidental findings are considered in the conduct of multicentre trials. Data protection and good clinical practice are essential prerequisites. Developing international consensus of procedures is critical to successful validation if ADC is to become a useful biomarker in oncology. KEY POINTS • Standardised acquisition/analysis allows quantification of imaging biomarkers in multicentre trials. • Establishing "precision" of the measurement in the multicentre context is essential. • A repository with traceable data of known provenance promotes further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- N. M. deSouza
- CRUK Cancer Imaging Centre, Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Downs Road, Surrey, SM2 5PT UK
| | - J. M. Winfield
- CRUK Cancer Imaging Centre, Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Downs Road, Surrey, SM2 5PT UK
| | - J. C. Waterton
- Manchester Academic Health Sciences Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - A. Weller
- CRUK Cancer Imaging Centre, Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Downs Road, Surrey, SM2 5PT UK
| | - M.-V. Papoutsaki
- CRUK Cancer Imaging Centre, Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Downs Road, Surrey, SM2 5PT UK
| | - S. J. Doran
- CRUK Cancer Imaging Centre, Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Downs Road, Surrey, SM2 5PT UK
| | - D. J. Collins
- CRUK Cancer Imaging Centre, Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Downs Road, Surrey, SM2 5PT UK
| | - L. Fournier
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Radiology Department, Université Paris Descartes Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - D. Sullivan
- Duke Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Durham, NC USA
| | - T. Chenevert
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI USA
| | - A. Jackson
- Manchester Academic Health Sciences Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - M. Boss
- Applied Physics Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Boulder, CO USA
| | - S. Trattnig
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Y. Liu
- European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer, Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium
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