Jing Yuan1, Steven Kwok Keung Chow1, David Ka Wai Yeung1, Yujia Li1, Anil T. Ahuja1, Ann D. King1
1Imaging and Interventional Radiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong
This pilot study is to investigate the feasibility of non-Gaussian diffusion models, including diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI), stretched exponential model (SEM), intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) and statistical model, for 3T diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) analysis in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The results showed that at an extended b-value range up to 1500s/mm2, all non-Gaussian models yielded better diffusion signal fitting than the normal mono-exponential model for both primary tumors and metastatic nodes. Additional to the nominal diffusion coefficient, other non-Gaussian parameters could be extracted as potential biomarkers for NPC lesion detection and characterization in clinical applications.