[An experimental study on rabbit liver by 3.0 Tesla magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the methodology as well as the features, quantificational index, and reference standard of 3.0 Tesla magnetic resonance (MR) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) on the normal rabbit's liver.


METHODS
Twenty New Zealand white rabbits were enrolled and DWI was performed after anesthetics with multi-b values at 3.0 T MR scanner. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values as well as the difference between maximum and minimum ADC values, signal strength (SH), noise signal (SD), signal to noise ratio (SNR), and quality index (QI) were recorded and analyzed.


RESULTS
With b value increased, the ADC values decreased accordingly (P < 0.001). The difference between maximum and minimum ADC values with b = 1000 s/mm2 was the least (good stability), b = 600 s/mm2 was the second least, and b = 300 s/mm2 was greatest (bad stability). The SH decreased at the same time (P < 0.001), but the difference among DWI with b =600, 800, and 1000 s/mm2 was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The SD decreased at the same time (P < 0.001), but the difference between DWI with b = 800 s/mm2 and b = 1000 s/mm2 was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The SNR decreased at the same time (P < 0.001), but there were no significant differences between DWI with b = 600 s/mm2 and b = 800 s/mm2 or b = 600 s/mm2 and b = 1000 s/mm2 (P > 0.05). The SNR of DWI with b = 800 s/mm2 and b = 1000 s/mm2 was lower. The QI decreased at the same time (P < 0. 001) , but the difference between DWI with b = 800 s/mm2 and b = 1000 s/mm was not statistically significant (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
When 3.0 T MR DWI is applied for rabbit liver, it is better to use b = 600 s/mm2 for reducing scanning time and assuring better diffusion weights, quantity of images, and stability of ADC measurement.
Department of Radiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.
Tian-Ming
TM
Dong
Xi-Jie
XJ
Sun
Xian
X
Xu
Jing
J
Dai
Wei
W
Zheng
Ning-Yu
NY
An
Xiao-Qing
XQ
Wang
D000818:Animals; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008099:Liver; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits