Reproducibility of Histogram and Texture Parameters Derived from Intravoxel Incoherent Motion Diffusion-weighted MRI of FN13762 Rat Breast Carcinomas

Abstract

Aim: To determine the reproducibility of histogram and texture parameters derived from intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of FN13762 rat breast carcinomas. Materials and Methods: IVIM diffusion-weighted MRI was performed twice, nine days after tumor implantation in 11 rats. At each session, histogram and texture parameters of entire tumors were extracted from apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), true-diffusion coefficient (D-t), pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D-p), and perfusion fraction (Pf) maps. Intraobserver and interscan measurement reproducibilities were evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Results: Mean, entropy, 5th, 10th, 25th percentiles from ADC and D-t maps revealed good intra-observer and interscan agreements [lower limits of 95% confidence interval (CI) for ICC >= 0.75]. However, all parameters from Dp and Pf maps gave relatively poor intra-observer and interscan agreements (lower limits of 95% CI for ICC<0.75). Conclusion: Histogram and texture parameters derived from ADC and D-t maps were more reproducible than those from D-p and Pf maps.