Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of human skeletal muscles: gender-, age- and muscle-related differences in apparent diffusion coefficient

• Published in: Magnetic resonance imaging Vol. 27; no. 1; pp. 69 - 78
• Main Authors: Yanagisawa, Osamu, Shimao, Daisuke, Maruyama, Katsuya, Nielsen, Matthew, Irie, Takeo, Niitsu, Mamoru
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 2009
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age; Age Factors; Aged; Ankle; Apparent diffusion coefficient; Chi-Square Distribution; Child; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Diffusion-weighted imaging; Female; Gender; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Muscle, Skeletal - anatomy & histology; Muscle, Skeletal - blood supply; Radiology; Sex Factors; Skeletal muscle; Spine; Statistics, Nonparametric; Diffusion-weighted imaging; Gender; Skeletal muscle; Age; Apparent diffusion coefficient
• ISSN: 0730-725X; 1873-5894
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2008.05.011

To evaluate the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of skeletal muscle based on signal intensity (SI) attenuation vs. increasing b values and to determine ADC differences in skeletal muscles between genders, age groups and muscles. Diffusion-weighted images ( b values in the range of 0–750 s/mm 2 at increments of 50 s/mm 2) of the ankle dorsiflexors (116 subjects) and the erector spinae muscles (86 subjects) were acquired with a 1.5-T MR device. From the two different slopes obtained in SI vs. b-value logarithmic plots, ADC b0–50 ( b values=0 and 50 s/mm 2) reflected diffusion and perfusion, while ADC b50–750 ( b values in the range of 50–750 s/mm 2 at increments of 50 s/mm 2) approximated the true diffusion coefficient. Moreover, to evaluate whether this b-value combination is appropriate for assessing the flow component within muscles, diffusion-weighted images of the ankle dorsiflexors (10 subjects) were obtained before and during temporal arterial occlusion. ADC b0–50 and ADC b50–750 were found to be 2.64×10 –3 and 1.44×10 –3 mm 2/s in the ankle dorsiflexors, and 3.02×10 –3 and 1.49×10 –3 mm 2/s in the erector spinae muscles, respectively. ADC b0–50 was significantly higher than ADC b50–750 in each muscle ( P<.01). The erector spinae muscles showed significantly higher ADC values than the ankle dorsiflexors ( P<.01). However, for each muscle, there were few significant gender- and age-related ADC differences. Following temporal occlusion, ADC b0–50 of the ankle dorsiflexors decreased significantly from 2.49 to 1.6×10 –3 mm 2/s ( P<.01); however, ADC b50–750 showed no significant change. Based on the SI attenuation pattern, muscle ADC could be divided into ADC that reflects both diffusion and perfusion, and ADC that approximates a true diffusion coefficient. There were significant differences in ADC of functionally distinct muscles. However, we barely found any gender- or age-related ADC differences for each muscle.