High-b-value Diffusion-weighted MR Imaging of Adult Brain: Image Contrast and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Map Features
Mark C. DeLanoa,b,
Thomas G. Coopera,
James E. Sieberta,
Michael J. Potchena and
Karthik Kuppusamya
a From the Michigan State University (M.C.D., T.G.C., J.E.S., M.J.P.), Department of Radiology, East Lansing, MI, and General Electric Medical Systems (K.K.), Waukesha, WI.
b Address correspondence to Mark C. DeLano, MD, Department of Radiology, 184 Radiology Building, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824.
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FIG 1. Isotropic diffusion-weighted images with varying b values.
A, Image obtained with a b value of 1000 and 72/1 (TE/excitations). There is hyperintensity of cortical gray matter, particularly in the insular and medial frontal regions.
B, Image obtained with a b value of 2000 and 84/2. Near isointensity of gray and white matter is seen with slight hyperintensity of posterior capsular white matter and pontine regions.
C, Image obtained with a b value of 3500 and 96/4. Progressive hyperintensity of white matter is present with diminished gray matter signal intensity.
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FIG 2. Mean ADC values with SDs for ROI in six participants. Echo time was fixed at 96 ms for all acquisitions. The numbers of excitation were varied to improve signal-to-noise ratios at higher b values: numbers of excitation were one, two, and four for b values of 1000, 2000, and 3000, respectively. ADC values diminish with increasing b values. ADC SDs decrease with multiple numbers of excitaiton
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FIG 3. ADC maps at varying b values. Improved gray-white differentiation is noted with increased b value. A, b = 1000; B, b = 2000; C, b = 2500; and D, b = 3500
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FIG 4. Clinical case of multiple sclerosis.
A, Fast spin-echo axial T2-weighted image (4000/102/2 [TR/TE/excitations]) shows a dominant subcortical right cingulate gyrus lesion with marked hyperintensity.
B, Fast-FLAIR image (10000/145/2200/1 [TR/TE/excitations]) highlights additional subcortical and periventricular plaques, including a large lesion in the right side of the splenium.
C, Diffusion-weighted image (10000/72/1) obtained with b = 1000 s/mm2 reveals slight hyperintensity in the right cingulate lesion, similar to the contralateral mesial frontal region, and hyperintensity in the right splenium lesion.
D, Diffusion-weighted image (10000/96/1) obtained with b = 3500 s/mm2 reveals marked hypointensity in the right cingulate lesion, likely reflecting reduced T2 weighting and less T2 shine-through. Persistent hyperintensity in the right splenium lesion is likely due to the normal anisotropy of the splenium and inconspicuity of hypointense lesions adjacent to the CSF spaces. This emphasizes the complementary relationship of the diffusion-weighted acquisitions obtained at standard and high b values.
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FIG 5. Reversal of gray-white matter contrast with increasing b values. Relative signal intensity values obtained from equation 2 in the text
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