The study was taken to assess the feasibility of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and apparent diffusion
coefficient (ADC) mapping using different b-values for magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS)
treatment of uterine fibroid and adenomyoma.
The contrast-enhanced T1-weighted image (cT1WI) as well as DWIs and ADC maps of different b-values (i.e.
200, 600 and 800 s/mm²) were obtained from nine fibroid and five adenomyoma patients, immediately after,
and 12 months after MRgFUS treatment. The image contrast score, non-perfused volume (NPV) and NPV
ratio obtained were compared to determine the feasibility of DWI and ADC mapping for MRgFUS treatment
outcome evaluation.
Our finding showed that immediately after MRgFUS treatment, the DWI acquired using 200 s/mm² b-value
gave the highest image contrast score among all other b-values. The NPV calculated from DWI of 200 s/
mm² showed the best correlation (R² = 0.938) with post-contrast NPV. At 12 months follow-up, there was no
specific b-value considered as significantly superior to others in terms of image contrast. However, the NPVs
and NPV ratios obtained from all DWIs and ADC maps of different b-values were in good agreement with the
post-contrast NPV and NPV ratio.
We observed that the DWI, particularly obtained with a low b-value (i.e. 200 s/mm²), is feasible for delineation
and quantitative volumetric evaluation of the ablated region immediately after the MRgFUS treatment. At 12
months follow-up, both DWIs and ADC maps are feasible for NPV and NPV ratio calculation.