Estimation of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) parameters in vertebral bone marrow: a comparative study of five algorithms.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To access the performances of different algorithms for quantification of Intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) parameters D, f, [Formula see text] in Vertebral Bone Marrow (VBM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five algorithms were studied four deterministic algorithms (the One-Step and three segmented methods: Two-Step, Three-Step, and Fixed-[Formula see text] algorithm) based on the least-squares (LSQ) method and a Bayesian probabilistic algorithm. Numerical simulations and quantification of IVIM parameters D, f, [Formula see text] in vivo in vertebral bone marrow, were done on six healthy volunteers. The One-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Bonferroni's multiple comparison test (p value = 0.05) was applied. RESULTS: In numerical simulations, the Bayesian algorithm provided the best estimation of D, f, [Formula see text] compared to the deterministic algorithms. In vivo VBM-IVIM, the values of D and f estimated by the Bayesian algorithm were close to those of the One-Step method, in contrast to the three segmented methods. DISCUSSION: The comparison of the five algorithms indicates that the Bayesian algorithm provides the best estimation of VBM-IVIM parameters, in both numerical simulations and in vivo data.