Restriction Spectrum Imaging of Breast Lesions

What is it about?

In this study, we demonstrated that the volume fraction maps (f1, f3, and f1f2) based on the RSI-DWI model could be used to distinguish malignant from benign breast lesions. In addition, the RSI-derived parameters are more advantageous for reflecting ER and PR status than conventional ADC values.

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Why is it important?

New advanced diffusion model named restriction spectrum imaging (RSI) has recently been proposed to reveal further the complicated water molecule diffusion behavior. With multiple b-values and diffusion directions applied, the RSI model can separate water molecule diffusion into several microscopic tissue compartments, including restricted (f1), hindered (f2), and free (f3) water compartments. The spectrum parameters f1 and f2 can represent the relative contributions of restricted and hindered signals that originated from intracellular and extracellular water compartments, respectively. Changes in DWI signal intensity between voxels could be considered to be caused by changes in the relative sizes of the three water compartments. Thus, the restricted water compartment in RSI is considered to provide an accurate characterization of tissue cellularity, which could be used to assess tumor aggressiveness.

Perspectives