Validation of Intravoxel Incoherent Motion (IVIM) Methods in the Liver using the NIST Diffusion Phantom

Intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) MRI is used to measure quantitative biomarkers of liver fibrosis, but accuracy and reproducibility of various methods requires validation. Six IVIM methods with different acquisition parameters (motion control techniques, b-values, single shot EPI v. SMS) were assessed using the NIST diffusion phantom. The phantom measurements met conformance standards for percent apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) bias and ADC linearity using a protocol modified for liver MRI. Given that no standard IVIM liver phantom has been developed, the NIST diffusion phantom is shown to work well for validation of liver IVIM acquisitions.