Kidney 3.0t Magnetic Resonance Diffusion Imaging Studies

Part I3.0T MR Diffusion Imaging of Normal KidneyBackground and purpose: MR diffusion imaging, including diffusion -weighted imaging (DWI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), could provide the information of water commutation in tissue under physiological and pathological condition. Echo-planner imaging technique has broadened the application of MR diffusion imaging in abdomen. Kidney is a valuable organ for diffusion imaging research as its high volume of blood flow and water commutation. Compared with 1.5T MR, 3.0T MR has higher resolution of imaging with better SNR and shorter scanning time. Our aim was to study the normal appearance of kidney in MR diffusion imaging and to probe the suitable scanning parameters and measurement methods. The infection of sex and age is also discussed.Material and methods: Forty-eight volunteers underwent diffusion-sensitive magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the kidneys with a breathe-hold single-shot echo planar imaging (SS-EPI) sequence. DWI was the trace imaging of three orthogonal directions with b values of 100, 500 and 800s/mm~2, and DTI was in 6 direction with b values of 100 and 800s/mm~2. ADCs, FA and RA values were measured from ADC map and DTI map.