In vivo 3 T MR diffusion tensor imaging for detection of the fibre architecture of the human uterus: a feasibility and quantitative study

Abstract

In vivo 3 T MR diffusion tensor imaging for detection of the fibre architecture of the human uterus: a feasibility and quantitative study Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of depicting fibre architecture of human uteri in vivo using 3 T MR diffusion tensor imaging (MR-DTI) with a three-dimensional (3D) tractography approach. Quantitative results were provided. Methods: In vivo 3 T MR-DTI was performed on 30 volunteers (9 Caesarean delivery). Main diffusion directions reflecting the fibre orientation were determined using sensitivity-encoding single-shot echo planar imaging with diffusion-sensitised gradients (b5600 mm 2 s -1

3-T diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of normal uterus in young and middle-aged females during the menstrual cycle: evaluation of the cyclic changes of fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values

“…Current published studies include ex vivo and in vivo studies. [11][12][13][14][15][16] In 2006, threedimensional fibre architecture of the normal human uterus based on DTI has been ex vivo evaluated in five samples by Weiss et al 11 Toba et al 12 ex vivo study showed that DTI might be a useful tool for the diagnosis of myometrial invasion of uterine endometrial cancer. However, fractional anisotropy (FA) value of a normal uterus has not been thoroughly investigated yet.…”

“…It would be ambiguous to use this MR parameter to evaluate malignancy situations without knowing the possible differences in various uterine structures, including endometrium, myometrium and junctional zone. In 2012, Fiocchi et al 13 investigated the feasibility of depicting fibre architecture of the human uterus in vivo using 3-T MR-DTI based on 30 volunteers in different menstrual phases (MPs). In 2013, Fujimoto et al 14 compared the DTI parameters in the different uterine layers of nine subjects in vivo, but limited their study group to the luteal phase (LP) only.…”

Diffusion Tensor Imaging of the Uterine Zones Related to the Menstrual Cycle and Menopausal Status at 3 Tesla MRI

“…Fiocchi et al (10) showed that the FA and ADC values of the whole uterus in a cesarean-scarred uteri group were 0.42±0.02 and 1.82±0. 18 these two groups, which were smaller in the cesarean section group.…”

“…Diffusion tensor imaging is the best method to evaluate the anisotropic properties of solid organs, and it, unlike DWI, permits the analysis of diffusion along multiple directions. Recently, the improvement of this technique made it a useful and complementary sequence to conventional imaging techniques for demonstrating the fiber structures of the uterus (4,8,(10)(11)(12)(13).…”

Diffusion-weighted and diffusion-tensor imaging of normal and diseased uterus

“…With the improvement of the MRI hardware and softwares, fast imaging techniques, after the use of DWI also DTI was implemented to abdominal imaging for some of the abdominal organs like uterus. The initial researches have been published regarding DTI of the uterus specimens of the patients to whom hysterectomy was performed for medical reasons [24] and then in vivo on the uterus of the patients' [5] . Nonfunctional (conventional) MRI provides excellent anatomical information of the uterus, however, the morphological appearance still may not differentiate some of the benign and malignant uterine lesions [6] .…”