Age and gender differences of normative values of spleen diffusion MRI parameters

Abstract

Purpose

This study investigates age and gender differences of normative values of spleen diffusion MRI parameters.

Materials and Methods

We recruited 124 volunteers with MRI conducted at 1.5T. Diffusion imaging had b-values of 0, 2, 4, 7, 10, 15, 20, 30, 46, 60, 72, 100, 150, 200, 400, 600 s/mm². ADC, IVIM-Dslow, IVIM-PF, IVIM-Dfast, and DDVD (diffusion-derived vessel density) were computed. DDVD is the signal difference between the b=0 s/mm² image and b=2, 4 s/mm² image. Only images without apparent artifacts and with good curving fitting were included in the analysis. Finally, 34 females (age: 20–71 years) and 69 males (22–70 years) were measured with ADC; 20 females (20–71 years) and 48 males (22–67 years) were measured with IVIM; 32 females (20–71 years) and 65 males (22–70 years) were measured with DDVD parameter.

Results

An age-related decrease in ADC was noted for females, while such a trend was not noted for males. A very high level of heterogeneity was noted for the data for the males, with the highest ADC value being 1.710 × 10^–3mm ²/s and the lowest ADC value being 0.705 × 10^–3 mm²/s when b=0 and 600 s/mm ² were used for ADC calculation. A male-female data comparison did not show a statistically significant difference between the ADC median value. However, ADCs > 1.3 × 10^–3 mm²/s were only seen among males. A very high level of heterogeneity was also noted for males’ Dslow, with the highest value being 1.468 × 10^–3 mm²/s and the lowest value being 0.600 × 10^–3 mm²/s. Both PF and Dfast demonstrated a trend of age-related increase for older subjects. PF values were higher among males than females. However, no difference was noted for Dfast between males and females. DDVD did not show an age-related trend both for females and males. No difference was noted in DDVD values between males and females.

Conclusion

Interpreting normal spleen diffusion MRI parameters should consider age and gender factors.

Key Points

• An age-related decrease in spleen ADC and IVIM-Dslow was seen for healthy females.

• There is a high level of heterogeneity for spleen ADC and IVIM-Dslow data for healthy males.

• IVIM modelled perfusion fraction and Dfast demonstrate an artificial trend of age-related increase for older subjects.

• Vessel density measured on diffusion imaging does not show an age-related trend.

Citation Format

• Yu W, Ma FZ, Huang H et al. Age and gender differences of normative values of spleen diffusion MRI parameters. Rofo 2025; 197: 535–545

Zusammenfassung

Zweck

Diese Studie untersucht Alters- und Geschlechtsunterschiede der normativen Werte der Diffusions-MRT-Parameter der Milz.

Materialien und Methoden

Wir rekrutierten 124 Freiwillige für eine MRT-Untersuchung mit 1.5T. Die Diffusionsbildgebung hatte b-Werte von 0, 2, 4, 7, 10, 15, 20, 30, 46, 60, 72, 100, 150, 200, 400, 600 s/mm². ADC, IVIM-Dslow, IVIM-PF, IVIM-Dfast und DDVD (diffusionsabgeleitete Gefäßdichte) wurden berechnet. DDVD ist die Signaldifferenz zwischen dem Bild mit b=0 s/mm² und dem Bild mit b=2, 4 s/mm². In die Analyse wurden nur Bilder ohne erkennbare Artefakte und mit guter Kurvenanpassung einbezogen. Schließlich hatten 34 Frauen (Alter: 20-71 Jahre) und 69 Männer (22-70 Jahre) ADC; 20 Frauen (20-71 Jahre) und 48 Männer (22-67 Jahre) hatten IVIM; 32 Frauen (20-71 Jahre) und 65 Männer (22-70 Jahre) hatten DDVD.

Ergebnisse

Bei Frauen wurde ein altersbedingter Rückgang des ADC festgestellt, während bei Männern kein solcher Trend zu beobachten war. Bei den Daten der Männer wurde ein sehr hohes Maß an Heterogenität festgestellt, wobei der höchste ADC-Wert 1.710 × 10^–3 mm²/s und der niedrigste ADC-Wert 0.705 × 10^–3 mm²/s betrug, wenn b=0 und 600 s/mm² für die ADC-Berechnung verwendet wurden. Ein Datenvergleich zwischen Männern und Frauen ergab keinen statistisch signifikanten Unterschied zwischen dem ADC-Medianwert. Allerdings wurden ADCs >1.3 × 10^–3 mm²/s nur bei Männern beobachtet. Ein sehr hohes Maß an Heterogenität wurde auch für den Dslow der Männer festgestellt, wobei der höchste Wert bei 1.468 × 10^–3 mm²/s und der niedrigste Wert bei 0.600 × 10^–3 mm²/s lag. Sowohl PF als auch Dfast zeigten einen Trend zu einem altersbedingten Anstieg bei älteren Probanden. Die PF-Werte waren bei Männern höher als bei Frauen. Für Dfast wurde jedoch kein Unterschied zwischen Männern und Frauen festgestellt. DDVD zeigte weder bei Frauen noch bei Männern einen altersbedingten Trend. Es wurde kein Unterschied bei den DDVD-Werten zwischen Männern und Frauen festgestellt.

Schlussfolgerung

Bei der Interpretation normaler Diffusions-MRT-Parameter für die Milz sollten Alters- und Geschlechtsfaktoren berücksichtigt werden.

Kernaussagen

• Bei gesunden Frauen besteht in der eine altersbedingte Abnahme von Milz-ADC und IVIM-Dslow.

• Es besteht ein hohes Maß an Heterogenität für die ADC- und IVIM-Dslow-Daten in der Milz gesunder Männer.

• Die von IVIM modellierte Perfusionsfraktion und Dfast zeigen einen artifiziellen Trend einer altersbedingten Zunahme bei älteren Probanden.

• Die mittels Diffusionsbildgebung gemessene Gefäßdichte zeigt keinen altersbedingten Trend.

Keywords

Apparent diffusion coefficient - Intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) - spleen - aging - normative value

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