Deep learning-based image quality and spatial resolution improvement in Turbo Spin Echo Diffusion Weighted Imaging for prostate

Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) plays an important role in assessing the significance of prostate cancer. DWI with Turbo Spin Echo readout (TSE-DWI) is robust to image distortion but suffers from low signal to noise ratio. In this study, we investigated the use of prototype AI-based reconstruction technique (SmartSpeed Precise Image) to improve the image quality of TSE-DWI images. The image quality was compared between conventional Compressed-SENSE (C-SENSE), SmartSpeed AI, and SmartSpeed Precise Image. Volunteer data demonstrated a significant improvement of sharpness in both b=0 and 1000 s/mm2 images as well as ADC map, compared with C-SENSE and SmartSpeed AI reconstructions.