title: Dual-source parallel RF transmission for diffusion-weighted imaging of the abdomen using different b values: image quality and apparent diffusion coefficient comparison with conventional single-source transmission.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To prospectively and intraindividually evaluate what effects dual-source parallel radiofrequency (RF) transmission have on image quality and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of abdomen diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) using different b values, compared with the single-source RF transmission.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen healthy male volunteers were enrolled in this Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-compliant Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved study. Abdominal DWI was performed with dual-source and single-source RF transmission at 3.0 T using a series of b-value combinations: 0/100, 0/500, 0/800, and 0/100/800. RF field homogeneity, subjective image quality, and signal to noise ratio (SNR) of each abdominal organ were evaluated. ADC values were calculated for each abdominal organ. Wilcoxon test and repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to calculate statistical significance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The parallel RF transmission significantly improved homogeneity of the RF field (P = 0.0001-0.008) and subjective image quality (P < 0.0001) at each b value and also increased SNR. At lower and higher b value, the measured ADC of lateral left hepatic lobe and spleen between dual-source and single-source images were significantly different (P = 0.0001-0.047). At b = 0/500, there was no significant difference in ADC measurements between dual-source and single-source RF transmission for abdominal organs, except a slight statistically significant difference for spleen (P = 0.047).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Parallel RF transmission significantly improved the image quality and homogeneity of the RF field. The RF transmission had a significant influence on measured ADC of lateral left hepatic lobe and spleen. At b = 0/500 the influence was minimum for all abdominal organs.
authors.affiliation: Shandong Medical Imaging Research Institute, Shandong University, Jinan, PR China.
authors.forename: Lijun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Weibo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Queenie
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Guangbin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen; D000328:Adult; D016477:Artifacts; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008297:Male; D010179:Pancreas / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013154:Spleen / Q000033:anatomy & histology