Assessment of Correlation between Intravoxel Incoherent Motion Diffusion Weighted MR Imaging and Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MR Imaging of Sacroiliitis with Ankylosing Spondylitis

Biomed Res Int. 2017:2017:8135863. doi: 10.1155/2017/8135863. Epub 2017 Dec 27.

Abstract

The relationships between IVIM and DCE-MRI parameters in AS are not clear. We explore the correlation between intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) parameters obtained on MR images in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Forty-four patients with AS were prospectively examined using a 1.5-T MR system. IVIM DWI was performed with 11 b values (range, 0-800 s/mm2) for all patients. The correlation coefficients between IVIM and DCE-MRI parameters were analyzed using Spearman's method. Our results showed that intra- and interobserver reproducibility were excellent to relatively good (ICC = 0.804-0.981; narrow width of 95% limits of agreement). Moderate positive correlations were observed between pure molecular diffusion (Ds) and maximum enhancement (ME) and relative enhancement (RE) (r = 0.700, P < 0.001; r = 0.607, P < 0.001, resp.). Perfusion-related diffusion (Df) showed negative moderate correlation with ME (r = -0.608, P < 0.001). However, no correlation was observed between perfusion fraction (f) and any parameters of ME, RE, TTP, and BE (r = -0.093-0.213; P > 0.165). In conclusion, the IVIM parameters, especially f, might play a critical role in detecting the progression of AS, because it can provide more perfusion information compared with DCE-MRI; besides the IVIM MRI is a noninvasive method.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Contrast Media / therapeutic use
  • Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Image Enhancement
  • Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted
  • Middle Aged
  • Sacroiliitis / diagnosis
  • Sacroiliitis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Sacroiliitis / physiopathology
  • Spondylitis, Ankylosing / diagnosis
  • Spondylitis, Ankylosing / diagnostic imaging*
  • Spondylitis, Ankylosing / physiopathology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Contrast Media