Marianthi-Vasiliki Papoutsaki1, Alex Weller1, Matthew R Orton1, and Nandita M de Souza1
Standardization
of diffusion-weighted (DW) protocols in multi-centre clinical trials is
challenging. Prior to protocol development, the effect of inter-vendor related sequence
variations on the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) reliability should be explored.
In this study, the reliability of ADC estimates of lung lesions using two
optimised DW protocols was assessed by mimicking vendor-related sequence
variations. Patients with lung lesions were scanned twice using two DW
protocols with different fat suppression techniques, diffusion gradient modes
and TEs. These key variations increased the coefficient of variation of the ADC
estimates of lung lesions, although absolute values did not differ
significantly.