title: QIN DAWG Validation of Gradient Nonlinearity Bias Correction Workflow for Quantitative Diffusion-Weighted Imaging in Multicenter Trials.
abstract: Previous research has shown that system-dependent gradient nonlinearity (GNL) introduces a significant spatial bias (nonuniformity) in apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps. Here, the feasibility of centralized retrospective system-specific correction of GNL bias for quantitative diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in multisite clinical trials is demonstrated across diverse scanners independent of the scanned object. Using corrector maps generated from system characterization by ice-water phantom measurement completed in the previous project phase, GNL bias correction was performed for test ADC measurements from an independent DWI phantom (room temperature agar) at two offset locations in the bore. The precomputed three-dimensional GNL correctors were retrospectively applied to test DWI scans by the central analysis site. The correction was blinded to reference DWI of the agar phantom at magnet isocenter where the GNL bias is negligible. The performance was evaluated from changes in ADC region of interest histogram statistics before and after correction with respect to the unbiased reference ADC values provided by sites. Both absolute error and nonuniformity of the ADC map induced by GNL (median, 12%; range, -35% to +10%) were substantially reduced by correction (7-fold in median and 3-fold in range). The residual ADC nonuniformity errors were attributed to measurement noise and other non-GNL sources. Correction of systematic GNL bias resulted in a 2-fold decrease in technical variability across scanners (down to site temperature range). The described validation of GNL bias correction marks progress toward implementation of this technology in multicenter trials that utilize quantitative DWI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Dariya I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Malyarenko
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
authors.forename: Lisa J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Wilmes
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University (VU) Institute of Imaging Science, VU Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.
authors.forename: Lori R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Arlinghaus
authors.affiliation: Russel H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, John Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.affiliation: Advanced Imaging Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Karl G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Helmer
authors.affiliation: Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt Sinai, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Bachir
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Taouli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas.
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Yankeelov
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Newitt
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Thomas L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Chenevert
keywords: correction validation; gradient nonlinearity bias; nonuniform diffusion weighting