Back to Search
Start Over
STEAM-DWI as a robust alternative to EPI-DWI: Evaluation in pediatric brain MRI.
- Source :
-
PLoS ONE . 5/18/2022, Vol. 17 Issue 5, p1-13. 13p. - Publication Year :
- 2022
-
Abstract
- Purpose: Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is an essential element of almost every brain MRI examination. The most widely applied DWI technique, a single-shot echo-planar imaging DWI (EPI-DWI) sequence, suffers from a high sensitivity to magnetic field inhomogeneities. As an alternative, a single-shot stimulated echo acquisition mode diffusion-weighted MRI (STEAM-DWI) has recently been re-introduced after it became significantly faster. The aim of the study was to investigate the applicability of STEAM-DWI as a substitute to EPI-DWI in a daily routine of pediatric radiology. Methods: Retrospectively, brain MRI examinations of 208 children with both EPI-DWI and STEAM-DWI were assessed. Visual resolution and diagnostic confidence were evaluated, the extent of susceptibility artifacts was quantified, and contrast-to-noise ratio was calculated in case of diffusion restriction. Furthermore, the correlation of apparent diffusion coefficient values between STEAM-DWI and EPI-DWI was tested. Results: STEAM-DWI was inferior to EPI-DWI in visual resolution but with higher diagnostic confidence and lower artifact size. The apparent diffusion coefficient values of both sequences demonstrated excellent correlation. The contrast-to-noise ratio of STEAM-DWI was only half of that of EPI-DWI (58% resp. 112%). Conclusion: STEAM-DWI is a robust alternative to EPI-DWI when increased susceptibility artifacts are to be expected. Drawbacks are a lower contrast-to-noise ratio and poorer visual resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 19326203
- Volume :
- 17
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- PLoS ONE
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 156936046
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0268523