title: Comparison and Optimization of 3.0 T Breast Images Quality of Diffusion-Weighted Imaging with Multiple B-Values.
abstract: Breast 3.0 T magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging (MR-DWI) of benign and malignant lesions were obtained to measure and calculate the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), signal intensity ratio (SIR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of lesions at different b-values. The variation patterns of SNR and SIR were analyzed with different b-values and the images of DWI were compared at four different b-values with higher image quality. The effect of SIR on the differential diagnostic efficiency of benign and malignant lesions was compared using receiver operating characteristic curves to provide a reference for selecting the optimal b-value.
  
  
  
  A total of 96 qualified patients with 112 lesions and 14 patients with their contralateral 14 normal breasts were included in this study. The single-shot echo planar imaging sequence was used to perform the DWI and a total of 13 b-values were used: 0, 50, 100, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200, 1500, 1800, 2000, and 2500 s/mm2. On DWI, the suitable regions of interest were selected. The SNRs of normal breasts (SNRnormal), SNRlesions, SIR, and CNR of benign and malignant lesions were measured on DWI with different b-values and calculated. The variation patterns of SNR, SIR, and CNR values on DWI for normal breasts, benign lesions, and malignant lesions with different b-values were analyzed by using Pearson correlation analysis. The SNR and SIR of benign and malignant lesions with the same b-values were compared using t-tests. The diagnostic efficiencies of SIR with different b-values for benign and malignant lesions were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves.
  
  
  
  Breast DWI had higher CNR for b-values ranging from 600 to 1200 s/mm2. It had the best CNR at b = 1000 s/mm2for the benign lesions and at b = 1200 s/mm2for the malignant lesions. The signal intensity and SNR values of normal breasts decreased with increasing b-values, with a negative correlation (r = -0.945, P < 0.01). The mean SNR values of benign and malignant lesions were negatively correlated (r = -0.982 and -0.947, respectively, and P < 0.01), gradually decreasing with increasing b-values. The mean SIR value of benign lesions gradually decreased with increasing b-values, a negative correlation (r = -0.991, P < 0.01). The mean SIR values of malignant lesions gradually increased with increasing b-values between 0 and 1200 s/mm2, and gradually decreased with increasing b-values ≥ 1500 s/mm2. For b-values of 600, 800, 1000, and 1200 s/mm2, the sensitivity and specificity of SIR in identifying benign and malignant lesions gradually increased with increasing b-values, peaking at 1200 s/mm2.
  
  
  
  Breast DWI had higher image quality for b-values ranging from 600 to 1200 s/mm2, and was best for b-values ranging from 1000 to 1200 s/mm2. The SIR had the highest diagnostic efficiency in differentiating benign and malignant lesions for a b-value of 1200 s/mm2.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Heping Hospital Affiliated to Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi City, Shanxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Xiaowei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Heping Hospital Affiliated to Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi City, Shanxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Junfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No.87, Xiangya Road, Changsha City, Hunan Province 410008, China. Electronic address: 18235598969@163.com.
authors.forename: Xiaoyi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001940:Breast / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D002681:China; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D017352:Echo-Planar Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D012372:ROC Curve; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D059629:Signal-To-Noise Ratio
keywords: Breast; breast neoplasm; diffusion-weighted imaging