title: Feasibility study of computed vs measured high b-value (1400 s/mm²) diffusion-weighted MR images of the prostate.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the impact of computed b = 1400 s/mm(2) (C-b1400) vs measured b = 1400 s/mm(2) (M-b1400) diffusion-weighted images (DWI) on lesion detection rate, image quality and quality of lesion demarcation using a modern 3T-MR system based on a small-field-of-view sequence (sFOV).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients (PSA: 9.5 ± 8.7 ng/mL; 68 ± 12 years) referred for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the prostate were enrolled in this study. All measurements were performed on a 3T MR system. For DWI, a single-shot EPI diffusion sequence (b = 0, 100, 400, 800 s/mm²) was utilized. C-b1400 was calculated voxelwise from the ADC and diffusion images. Additionally, M-b1400 was acquired for evaluation and comparison. Lesion detection rate and maximum lesion diameters were obtained and compared. Image quality and quality of lesion demarcation were rated according to a 5-point Likert-type scale. Ratios of lesion-to-bladder as well as prostate-to-bladder signal intensity (SI) were calculated to estimate the signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-four lesions were detected on M-b1400 images and compared to C-b1400 images. C-b1400 detected three additional cancer suspicious lesions. Overall image quality was rated significantly better and SI ratios were significantly higher on C-b1400 (2.3 ± 0.8 vs 3.1 ± 1.0, P < 0.001; 5.6 ± 1.8 vs 2.8 ± 0.9, P < 0.001). Comparison of lesion size showed no significant differences between C- and M-b1400 (P = 0.22).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combination of a high b-value extrapolation and sFOV may contribute to increase diagnostic accuracy of DWI without an increase of acquisition time, which may be useful to guide targeted prostate biopsies and to improve quality of multiparametric MRI (mMRI) especially under economical aspects in a private practice setting.
authors: Leonardo K Bittencourt, Daniel Lima, Emerson L Gasparetto, CDPI Ressonância Magnética, Avenida das Américas, 4666 Barra da Tijuca, RJ 22631-000, Brazil.
authors: Leonardo K
authors: LK
authors: Bittencourt
authors: Leonardo K Bittencourt, Daniel Lima, Emerson L Gasparetto, CDPI Ressonância Magnética, Avenida das Américas, 4666 Barra da Tijuca, RJ 22631-000, Brazil.
authors: Ulrike I
authors: UI
authors: Attenberger
authors: Leonardo K Bittencourt, Daniel Lima, Emerson L Gasparetto, CDPI Ressonância Magnética, Avenida das Américas, 4666 Barra da Tijuca, RJ 22631-000, Brazil.
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Lima
authors: Leonardo K Bittencourt, Daniel Lima, Emerson L Gasparetto, CDPI Ressonância Magnética, Avenida das Américas, 4666 Barra da Tijuca, RJ 22631-000, Brazil.
authors: Ralph
authors: R
authors: Strecker
authors: Leonardo K Bittencourt, Daniel Lima, Emerson L Gasparetto, CDPI Ressonância Magnética, Avenida das Américas, 4666 Barra da Tijuca, RJ 22631-000, Brazil.
authors: Andre
authors: A
authors: de Oliveira
authors: Leonardo K Bittencourt, Daniel Lima, Emerson L Gasparetto, CDPI Ressonância Magnética, Avenida das Américas, 4666 Barra da Tijuca, RJ 22631-000, Brazil.
authors: Stefan O
authors: SO
authors: Schoenberg
authors: Leonardo K Bittencourt, Daniel Lima, Emerson L Gasparetto, CDPI Ressonância Magnética, Avenida das Américas, 4666 Barra da Tijuca, RJ 22631-000, Brazil.
authors: Emerson L
authors: EL
authors: Gasparetto
authors: Leonardo K Bittencourt, Daniel Lima, Emerson L Gasparetto, CDPI Ressonância Magnética, Avenida das Américas, 4666 Barra da Tijuca, RJ 22631-000, Brazil.
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Hausmann
keywords: Diffusion-weighted imaging; Extrapolated b-values; Magnetic resonance imaging; Prostate cancer; Ultra-high b-values