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- Title
Impact of post-processing methods on apparent diffusion coefficient values.
- Authors
Zeilinger, Martin; Lell, Michael; Baltzer, Pascal; Dörfler, Arnd; Uder, Michael; Dietzel, Matthias
- Abstract
Objective: The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) is increasingly used as a quantitative biomarker in oncological imaging. ADC calculation is based on raw diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) data, and multiple post-processing methods (PPMs) have been proposed for this purpose. We investigated whether PPM has an impact on final ADC values. Methods: Sixty-five lesions scanned with a standardized whole-body DWI-protocol at 3 T served as input data (EPI-DWI, b-values: 50, 400 and 800 s/mm). Using exactly the same ROI coordinates, four different PPM (ADC_1-ADC_4) were executed to calculate corresponding ADC values, given as [10 mm/s] of each lesion. Statistical analysis was performed to intra-individually compare ADC values stratified by PPM (Wilcoxon signed-rank tests: α = 1 %; descriptive statistics; relative difference/∆; coefficient of variation/CV). Results: Stratified by PPM, mean ADCs ranged from 1.136-1.206 *10 mm/s (∆ = 7.0 %). Variances between PPM were pronounced in the upper range of ADC values (maximum: 2.540-2.763 10 mm/s, ∆ = 8 %). Pairwise comparisons identified significant differences between all PPM ( P ≤ 0.003; mean CV = 7.2 %) and reached 0.137 *10 mm/s within the 25th-75th percentile. Conclusion: Altering the PPM had a significant impact on the ADC value. This should be considered if ADC values from different post-processing methods are compared in patient studies. Key Points : • Post-processing methods significantly influenced ADC values. • The mean coefficient of ADC variation due to PPM was 7.2 %. • To achieve reproducible ADC values, standardization of post-processing is recommended.
- Subjects
DIFFUSION coefficients; QUANTITATIVE research; BIOMARKERS; PRECANCEROUS conditions; MULTIVARIATE analysis; DIAGNOSIS
- Publication
European Radiology, 2017, Vol 27, Issue 3, p946
- ISSN
0938-7994
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00330-016-4403-6