Intravoxel incoherent motion MR imaging for breast lesions: comparison and correlation with pharmacokinetic evaluation from dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging

Abstract

• IVIM provided diffusion as well as perfusion information • IVIM could help differential diagnosis of breast lesions • Correlations were found between perfusion-related parameters from IVIM and DCE MRI.

Intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion‐weighted imaging in assessing bladder cancer invasiveness and cell proliferation

“…In the present study, the f value did not differ significantly between the MIBC and NMIBC groups, which was similar to other findings . f was sensitive to the maximal b value employed and their potential sampling from non‐Gaussian effects . A previous study found that the f value was significantly increased in tumors with maximal b value below 750 s/mm 2 in prostate cancers and decreased or indistinguishable from normal tissues with higher maximal b value .…”

“…In the current study, the D* values in the MIBC group were not significantly lower than the D* values in the NMIBC group. Similarly, previous studies of liver or breast have reported that D* values in malignant lesions were lower than or indistinguishable from those of benign lesions . The repeatability estimates found for D* in this work were relatively good, with an ICC greater than 0.75 for D* using the biexponential model, while D* had previously been found to be less stable, with wide variability in tumors .…”

“…Similarly, previous studies of liver or breast have reported that D* values in malignant lesions were lower than or indistinguishable from those of benign lesions . The repeatability estimates found for D* in this work were relatively good, with an ICC greater than 0.75 for D* using the biexponential model, while D* had previously been found to be less stable, with wide variability in tumors . IVIM parameters are dependent on magnetic field strength to a small extent and the relatively low signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) may compromise the precision of the calculated IVIM parameters .…”

Intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion‐weighted MRI of invasive breast cancer: Correlation with prognostic factors and kinetic features acquired with computer‐aided diagnosis

“…Although it is still unclear how closely the f value relates to delayed persistent proportions in our study, it could be postulated by the effect of "late enhancement," which corresponds to a progressive interstitial accumulation and combines with the rapid initial slope of enhancement . Therefore, the f value seems to be influenced not only by the quantity of neovascularity, but also by the incoherent flow in small vessels . As the median f values were reported to be higher in breast cancers (9.1–11.9%) than in benign lesions (5.0–5.3%) or normal breast tissue (1.5–8.3%), it was suggested that the most aggressive breast cancers could show the highest f values .…”

“…The ADC value is a quantifiable value that provides a measurement of tissue cellularity, which is influenced not only by water diffusion but also by perfusion . The perfusion effect may result in overestimation of the ADC value owing to an increased microvessel count for tumor angiogenesis . Throughout the IVIM, the D value, which reports more precise cellularity and provides increased specificity in diagnosing breast cancer, can be acquired by avoiding microcirculation contributions .…”