Standardized QC procedure for vendor-implemented ADC correction of gradient nonlinearity bias in multi-center clinical trials

Gradient nonlinearity (GNL) induces spatial bias in diffusion b-value that confounds apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements for anatomy offset from MRI scanner isocenter. For emerging vendor-provided GNL correction (GNC) a standardized quality control (QC) procedure is desired to streamline GNC application for multi-site imaging trials that utilize ADC for tumor monitoring and therapy response assessment. This QC procedure was developed and tested on four MRI scanner systems with vendor-provided on-line ADC GNC for trial-specific phantoms and patient scans for head-and-neck, breast, and myelofibrosis cancers.