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Effects of image noise in muscle diffusion tensor (DT)‐MRI assessed using numerical simulations
Author(s) -
Damon Bruce M.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
magnetic resonance in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.696
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1522-2594
pISSN - 0740-3194
DOI - 10.1002/mrm.21707
Subject(s) - diffusion mri , fractional anisotropy , voxel , tensor (intrinsic definition) , anisotropy , eigenvalues and eigenvectors , physics , nuclear magnetic resonance , noise (video) , skeletal muscle , monte carlo method , mathematics , nuclear medicine , materials science , mathematical analysis , magnetic resonance imaging , image (mathematics) , geometry , anatomy , computer science , medicine , statistics , optics , radiology , artificial intelligence , quantum mechanics
Abstract Diffusion tensor (DT)‐MRI studies of skeletal muscle provide information about muscle architecture, microstructure, and damage. However, the effects of noise, the diffusion weighting ( b )‐value, and partial volume artifacts on the estimation of the diffusion tensor (D) are unknown. This study investigated these issues using Monte Carlo simulations of 3 × 9 voxel regions of interest (ROIs) containing muscle, adipose tissue, and intermediate degrees of muscle volume fractions ( f M ). A total of 1000 simulations were performed for each of eight b ‐values and 11 SNR levels. The dependencies of the eigenvalues (λ 1–3 ), mean diffusivity ( λ ), and fractional anisotropy (FA), and the angular deviation of the first eigenvector from its true value (α) were observed. For moderate b ‐values ( b = 435–725 s/mm 2 ) and f M = 1, an accuracy of 5% was obtained for λ 1–3 , λ , and FA with an SNR of 25. An accuracy of 1% was obtained for λ 1–3 , λ , and FA with f M = 1 and SNR = 50. For regions with f M = 8/9, 5% accuracy was obtained with SNR = 40. For α, SNRs of ≥25 and ≥45 were required for ±4.5° uncertainty with f M = 1 and f M = 0.5, respectively; SNR ≥ 60 was required for ±9° uncertainty in single muscle voxels. These findings may influence the design and interpretation of DT‐MRI studies of muscle microstructure, damage, and architecture. Magn Reson Med 60:934–944, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.