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Open Access 01-03-2020 | Magnetic Resonance

The repeatability of bilateral diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in the upper leg muscles of healthy adults

Authors: Jithsa R. Monte, Melissa T. Hooijmans, Martijn Froeling, Jos Oudeman, Johannes L. Tol, Mario Maas, Gustav J. Strijkers, Aart J. Nederveen

Published in: European Radiology | Issue 3/2020

Abstract

Objectives

Assessment of the repeatability of diffusion parameter estimations in the upper leg muscles of healthy adults over the time course of 2 weeks, from a simultaneous bilateral upper leg DTI measurement.

Methods

SE-EPI DTI datasets were acquired at 3 T in the upper legs of 15 active adults at a time interval of 2 weeks. ROIs were manually drawn for four quadriceps and three hamstring muscles of both legs. The following DTI parameters were analyzed: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd eigenvalue (λ₁, λ₂, and λ₃), mean diffusivity (MD), and fractional anisotropy (FA). DTI parameters per muscle were calculated with and without intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) correction together with SNR levels per muscle. Bland-Altman plots and within-subject coefficient of variation (wsCV) were calculated. Left-right differences between muscles were assessed.

Results

The Bland-Altman analysis showed good repeatability of all DTI parameters except FA for both the IVIM-corrected and standard data. wsCV values show that MD has the highest repeatability (4.5% IVIM; 5.6% standard), followed by λ₂ (4.9% IVIM; 5.5% standard), λ₁ (5.3% IVIM; 7.5% standard), and λ₃ (5.7% IVIM; 5.7% standard). wsCV values of FA were 15.2% for the IVIM-corrected data and 13.9% for the standard analysis. The SNR (41.8 ± 16.0 right leg, 41.7 ± 17.1 left leg) and wsCV values were similar for the left and right leg and no left-right bias was detected.

Conclusions

Repeatability was good for standard DTI data and slightly better for IVIM-corrected DTI data. Our protocol is suitable for DTI of the upper legs with overall good SNR.

Key Points

• The presented DTI protocol is repeatable and therefore suitable for bilateral DT imaging of the upper legs.

• Additional B1 ⁺ calibrations improve SNR and repeatability.

• Correcting for perfusion effects improves repeatability.

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Title: The repeatability of bilateral diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in the upper leg muscles of healthy adults
Authors: Jithsa R. Monte
Melissa T. Hooijmans
Martijn Froeling
Jos Oudeman
Johannes L. Tol
Mario Maas
Gustav J. Strijkers
Aart J. Nederveen
Publication date: 01-03-2020
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: European Radiology / Issue 3/2020
Print ISSN: 0938-7994
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1084
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-019-06403-5

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

The repeatability of bilateral diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in the upper leg muscles of healthy adults

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Key Points

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Key Points

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