Quantitative evaluation of diffusion and perfusion in fetal brain by intravoxel incoherent motion

YUE Cui; YUAN Xiao; YU Mei; WANG Wen; NAN Haiyan

Abstract：Objective To evaluate diffusion and perfusion in normal fetal brain quantitatively by Intravoxel Incoherent Mo-tion MR imaging(IVIM-MRI).Methods A total of 138 normal fetuses examined by IVIM-MRI were collected in our depart-ment.Images were processed by Siemens offline MITK software.Paired areas of interest(ROI)were obtained in the basal gan-glia,thalamus,cerebellar hemisphere,frontal lobe,parietal lobe,occipital lobe,temporal lobe,and single area of interest(ROI)was obtained in the pons.D value,f valueand D* value of each brain area were obtained respectively.One-way analysis of variable(ANOVA)followed by Bonferroni post-hoc multiple comparison was employed.Results There was statisticaldiffer-ence in D value among brain regions(P<0.05),with the highest value in frontal lobe,followed by parietal lobe,and the lowest value in cerebellar hemisphere and pons.There were significant differences in f value among brain regions(P<0.05).Multiple comparisons showed there were statistical differences between thalamus and cerebral hemispheres white matter,between thala-mus and pons(P<0.05);There was statistical difference between occipital lobe and basal gangliaregion,thalamus,cerebellar hemisphere and pons(P<0.05).There was no statistical difference in D* value among different brain regions(P>0.05).Conclu-sion IVIM-MRI imaging can reflect the diffusion and perfusion in the fetal brain.This paovides certain basis for prenatal exami-nation and disease screening of the fetus.