Multi-institution longitudinal apparent diffusion coefficient measurements in a diffusion weighted imaging phantom at room temperature

Background and purpose

This work contributes to technical validation of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) as a biomarker of cancer. The aim was to evaluate ADC accuracy, random error, short-term and long-term repeatability and reproducibility, across multiple institutions using a room temperature phantom.

Materials and methods

ADC measurements were made in a travelling room temperature diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) phantom on six scanners at four UK institutions over 18 months at six-month intervals. ADC bias measurements were calculated as the difference between measured and temperature corrected ground-truth ADC values and used to calculate mean ADC bias, isocentre ADC error estimate, short- and long-term intra-scanner repeatability as per the Quantitative Imaging Biomarkers Alliance (QIBA) DWI profiles, and inter-scanner reproducibility by calculating the 95 % limits of agreement for all ADC bias measurements.

Results

The use of a room-temperature phantom with a magnetic resonance (MR) readable thermometer enabled ADC measurements without ice-water setup, considerably simplifying logistics with respect to multi-institution ADC quality assurance. Mean ADC bias across all scanners and sessions was <0.01 × 10⁻³ mm² s⁻¹ (0.81 %); mean isocentre ADC error estimate was 1.43 %; average scanner short-term repeatability was <0.01 × 10⁻³ mm² s⁻¹ (1 %). Reproducibility was 0.07 × 10⁻³ mm² s⁻¹ (9 %).

Conclusion

Results indicated good ADC accuracy, repeatability and reproducibility; demonstrating the feasibility of transferring diagnostic DWI sequences between scanners from the same manufacturer, for use in multi-institution longitudinal studies, and assessing ADC with minimal quality control and harmonisation steps required.