The Preliminary Study of the Suitable B Value in Diffusion Weighted Imaging of Cervical Spinal Cord with 3.0T MR

Objective To determine reasonable b values in diffusion weighted imaging of cervical spinal cord with 3.0 T MR.Methods 49 normal persons received DWI of cervical spinal cord using a single shot EPI SE pulse sequence with different b values(400 s/mm2,600 s/mm2,800 s/mm2,1000 s/mm2).ADC values of the normal cervical spinal were measured.The image quality of each group of DWI and ADC were analyzed and compared.Results The images of DWI and ADC of 49 subjects were all acquired well,and ADC values of the normal cervical spinal cord were measured.As b values increasing from 400 s/mm2 to 1000 s/mm2,SNR of spinal cord and CSF decreased gradually.When b value was 600 s/mm2,the reference range of ADC values was stable,and the SNR was the highest,and then decreased gradually.Conclusion When b values is 600 s/mm2,the image quality of DWI and ADC map of cervical spinal cord is satisfying.