Biexponential Study in Diffusion Weighted Imaging of Liver Tumours

Jean-Luc Daire¹, Ralph Sinkus², Mathilde Wagner¹, Nathalie Haddad¹, Valrie Vilgrain¹, Bernard Van Beers¹

The aim of this project was to prospectively evaluate a DW MR imaging sequence combined with parallel acquisition to allow the calculation of pure molecular-based (D) and perfusion related (D*, f) diffusion parameters based on IVIM theory, in liver lesions according to their enhancement behaviour on 3D gradient-echo contrast-enhanced MR sequences. We have shown that D* and f values can reflect liver lesions perfusion since hypervascular liver lesions had significantly greater D* and f values than intermediate and non hypervascular lesions. A biexponential approach might be useful for the characterization of liver lesions and the assessment of tumour response.