title: Multishot diffusion-weighted PROPELLER magnetic resonance imaging of the abdomen.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using multishot PROPELLER for diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of the abdomen.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diffusion-weighted abdominal imaging was performed in 9 healthy volunteers and 3 patients using both single-shot DW-SE-EPI and multishot DW-PROPELLER (BLADE sequence). We compared ADC measurements in phantoms, liver and pancreatic tissues and performed qualitative comparisons of the diffusion-weighted images and ADC maps provided by these 2 techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DW-PROPELLER significantly improved image quality (P < 0.05) with reduced geometric distortion and artifact. The ADC values of phantoms and abdominal organs measured by DW-PROPELLER were generally greater than those measured by single-shot DW-SE-EPI. The ADC values measured by both DWI techniques were significantly different for liver tissues but not for pancreatic tissues (P < 0.05). Preliminary patient studies demonstrated clearly distinguished lesion areas from surrounding normal liver tissues in the DW-PROPELLER images. DW-PROPELLER offers the potential for high-resolution DWI of the abdomen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The multishot DW-PROPELLER sequence is a promising technique for DWI of abdominal organs. Future clinical studies will evaluate the use of DW-PROPELLER technique for abdominal oncologic imaging applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Frank H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Riad
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Salem
authors.forename: Reed A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Omary
authors.forename: Andrew C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Larson
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000473:pathology*; D000465:Algorithms; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity