Abstract
Purpose
To show the signal intensity varies with shot number in diffusion‐weighted (DW) echo‐planar imaging (EPI) and affects apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) calculation.
Materials and Methods
This prospective study was performed on 35 adult patients and 20 volunteers. Measurements were made on a 3T scanner using a breathhold DW spin‐echo EPI (SE EPI) sequence. Three protocols were used: A) eight consecutive shots at a fixed b‐value of 0 seconds/mm^2^ with TR = 1000 and 3000 msec; B) seven consecutive shots at b‐values = 0, 1000, 750, 500, 250, 100, 0 seconds/mm^2^ (in that order) with TR = 3500 msec; and C) seven consecutive shots (as in B) with TR = 1000, 1750, and 7000 msec.
Results
For protocol A, signal intensity decreased significantly from the first to second shot (P<0.0001) and thereafter remained constant. For protocol B, the ADC depended on which b = 0 seconds/mm^2^ image was used. Using the first b = 0 seconds/mm^2^, the mean ADC was 15% higher than using the second b = 0 seconds/mm^2^ (P<0.0001). For protocol C, the difference between ADC using the first b = 0 seconds/mm^2^ and the second b = 0 seconds/mm^2^ decreased as the TR increased.
Conclusion
The signal intensity can vary with shot number in SE EPI. For TR ≥ 3000 msec, steady‐state is attained after one shot. Using data acquired prior to steady‐state confounds the calculation of ADC values. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009;30:547–553. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.