Read-out Segmented Echo Planar Imaging with Two-Dimensional Navigator Correction (RESOLVE): An Alternative Sequence to Improve Image Quality on Diffusion-Weighted Imaging of Prostate.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate if the use of read-out segmented echoplanar imaging with additional two-dimensional navigator correction (Readout Segmentation of Long Variable Echo, RESOLVE) for acquiring prostate diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) improves image quality, compared to single-shot echoplanar imaging (ss-EPI).

METHODS

This single-center prospective study cohort included 162 males with suspected prostate cancer, who underwent 3 Tesla multiparametric MRI (3T-mpMRI). Two abdominal radiologists, blinded to the clinical information, separately reviewed each 3T-mpMRI study to rank geometrical distortion, degree of rectal distention, lesion conspicuity, and anatomic details delineation first on ss-EPI-DWI and later on RESOLVE-DWI using 5-point scales (1 = excellent, 5 = poor). The average of the ranking scores given by two readers was generated and used as the final score.

RESULTS

There was good-to-excellent interreader agreement for scoring image quality parameters on both ss-EPI and RESOLVE. Geometrical distortion scores > 3 was seen in 12.3% (20/162) of ss-EPI images, with all having geometrical distortion score <3 on RESOLVE ( < .001). The mean image distortion score was significantly less on RESOLVE than ss-EPI (1.16 1.61, < .01 regardless of rectal gas, .05 when stratified by the degree of rectal distention ). RESOLVE was superior to ss-EPI for lesion conspicuity (mean 1.35 1.53, .002) and anatomic delineation (2.60 2.68, .001) of prostate on DWI.

CONCLUSION

Compared to conventional ss-EPI, the use of RESOLVE for acquisition of prostate DWI resulted in significantly enhanced image quality and reduced geometrical distortion.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

RESOLVE could be an alternative or replacement of ss-EPI for acquiring prostate DWI with significantly less geometrical distortion and significantly improved lesion conspicuity and anatomic delineation.