Diffusion-Weighted MR Imaging (DWI) Using TRacking Only Navigator Echo (TRON): Initial Clinical Evaluation and Comparison to Respiratory Triggered and Free Breathing DWI

Thomas Kwee¹, Taro Takahara¹, Tetsuo Ogino², Gwen Herigault³, Maarten van Leeuwen¹, Willem Mali¹, Peter Luijten¹

Respiratory triggered (RT) and free breathing (FB) diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI) of the liver suffer from a prolonged examination time and image blurring, respectively. The TRacking Only Navigator echo (TRON) technique allows continuous real-time slice tracking and may be an excellent alternative. In this study, conspicuity of liver metastases (N=14) between TRON, RT, and FB DWI was equal, while actual scan time of RT DWI was two to three times longer and FB DWI inherently suffers from image blurring. Reproducibility of ADC measurements of liver metastases among TRON, RT and FB DWI was moderate to poor.