Volumetric q-space imaging by 3D diffusion-weighted MRI

Magn Reson Imaging. 2008 May;26(4):437-45. doi: 10.1016/j.mri.2007.09.001. Epub 2008 Feb 20.

Abstract

High b-value diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) enables us to detect far smaller architectures, by using q-space analysis, than the resolution in conventional MRI. Average displacement, one of the q-space parameters, quantitatively reflects architecture size and is very useful in observing small changes in microstructures in vivo (e.g., neurodegeneration, tumor heterogeneity, and others). Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is performed by a two-dimensional (2D) multislice method; however, due to finite slice thickness and slice gap, there is a partial-volume effect that makes it difficult to detect the net q-space signal. On the other hand, three-dimensional (3D) MRI, having the advantages of very thin slice thickness and no slice gap (contiguous slices), allows volumetric evaluation acquired in a small isotropic voxel, as compared to 2D multislice imaging. Little is known about the isotropic high-resolution 3D DWI application to q-space analysis. In this study, we have developed and implemented a high b-value 3D DWI sequence, applied q-space analysis to study the reliability of high b-value 3D DWI and obtained a microscopic analytical map with isotropic high resolution and less contamination.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Animals
  • Diffusion
  • Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / instrumentation*
  • Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Equipment Design
  • Female
  • Image Enhancement / methods
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / methods
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional
  • Models, Statistical
  • Phantoms, Imaging
  • Probability
  • Rats