Effects of diffusion time on non-Gaussian diffusion and intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) MRI parameters in breast cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma xenograft models

Background Perfusion-related intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) and non-Gaussian diffusion magnetic resonance (MR) parameters are becoming important biomarkers for differentiating malignant from benign tumors without contrast agents. However, diffusion-time dependence has rarely been investigated in tumors. Purpose To investigate the relationship between diffusion time and diffusion parameters in breast cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma xenograft mouse models. Material and Methods Diffusion-weighted MR images (DWI) were obtained on a 7-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner at two different diffusion times (9.6 ms and 27.6 ms) in human breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2 and PLC/PRF/5) xenograft mouse models. Perfusion-related IVIM (fIVIM and D*) and non-Gaussian diffusion (ADC0 and K) parameters were estimated. Parametric maps of diffusion changes with the diffusion times were generated using a synthetic apparent diffusion coefficient (sADC) obtained from b = 438 and 2584 s/mm2. Results ADC0 values significantly decreased when diffusion times were changed from 9.6 ms to 27.6 ms in MDA-MB-231, HepG2, and PLC/PRF/5 groups (P = 0.0163, 0.0351, and 0.0170, respectively). K values significantly increased in MDA-MB-231 and HepG2 groups (P < 0.0003 and = 0.0007, respectively); however, no significant difference was detected in the PLC/PRF/5 group. fIVIM values increased, although not significantly (P = 0.164–0.748). The maps of sADC changes showed that diffusion changes with the diffusion time were not homogeneous across tumor tissues. Conclusion Diffusion MR parameters in both breast cancer and HCC xenograft models were found to be diffusion time-dependent. Our results show that diffusion time is an important parameter to consider when interpreting DWI data.