Practical estimate of gradient nonlinearity for implementation of apparent diffusion coefficient bias correction

Purpose To describe an efficient procedure to empirically characterize gradient nonlinearity and correct for the corresponding apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) bias on a clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. Materials and Methods Spatial nonlinearity scalars for individual gradient coils along superior and right directions were estimated via diffusion measurements of an isotropic ice‐water phantom. Digital nonlinearity model from an independent scanner, described in the literature, was rescaled by system‐specific scalars to approximate 3D bias correction maps. Correction efficacy was assessed by comparison to unbiased ADC values measured at isocenter. Results Empirically estimated nonlinearity scalars were confirmed by geometric distortion measurements of a regular grid phantom. The applied nonlinearity correction for arbitrarily oriented diffusion gradients reduced ADC bias from ∼20% down to ∼2% at clinically relevant offsets both for isotropic and anisotropic media. Identical performance was achieved using either corrected diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) intensities or corrected b ‐values for each direction in brain and ice‐water. Direction‐average trace image correction was adequate only for isotropic medium. Conclusion Empiric scalar adjustment of an independent gradient nonlinearity model adequately described DWI bias for a clinical scanner. Observed efficiency of implemented ADC bias correction quantitatively agreed with previous theoretical predictions and numerical simulations. The described procedure provides an independent benchmark for nonlinearity bias correction of clinical MRI scanners. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2014;40:1487–1495 . © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc .