Abstract
Purpose
To compare multiplexed sensitivity-encoding diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MUSE-DWI) and conventional DWI (cDWI) techniques in thyroid MRI.
Materials and methods
Nineteen patients who underwent thyroid MRI using both MUSE-DWI and cDWI at a 3.0 T MRI system were enrolled. Qualitative parameters (image quality, thyroid contour, and lesion conspicuity) and quantitative parameters (signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), lesion-to-thyroid contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC)) were compared between the two sequences. In addition, ADC values derived from MUSE-DWI and cDWI were separately compared between benign and malignant lesions.
Results
MUSE-DWI outperformed cDWI in terms of image quality, thyroid contour, and lesion conspicuity. Significantly, higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in both the thyroid and its lesion were found in MUSE-DWI than those in cDWI (both P < 0.05). The lesion-to-thyroid contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) values were also significantly higher in MUSE-DWI than those in cDWI (P < 0.05). The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of the thyroid in MUSE-DWI was significantly lower than that in cDWI (P < 0.05). The ADC of the lesion in MUSE-DWI was also significantly lower than that in cDWI (P < 0.05). In addition, ADC values derived from MUSE-DWI and cDWI were significantly higher in benign lesions than malignant lesions (P < 0.05).
Conclusion
Compared with cDWI, MUSE-DWI can improve the image quality, thyroid contour sharpness, lesion conspicuity, SNR in both the thyroid and its lesions, and enhancing the CNR between lesions and thyroid.
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Funding
This research was funded by the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, grant number BK20221203, Wuxi health and family planning commission, grant [number Z202204 and number Q202240] and Wuxi municipal bureau on science and technology, grant number Y20212020.
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The study was conducted in accordance with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and approved by the Institutional Review Board of Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University.
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Wang, X., Wang, P., Zhang, H. et al. Multiplexed sensitivity-encoding versus single-shot echo-planar imaging: a comparative study for diffusion-weighted imaging of the thyroid lesions. Jpn J Radiol 42, 268–275 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-023-01500-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-023-01500-4