Multi-echo Diffusion-weighted Imaging for Quantifying Luminal Water Fraction in the Prostate

Prostate cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in men. Reduced luminal water fraction has been observed in prostate cancer using diffusion MRI, but the image acquisition takes a long time. We herein introduce a multi-echo DWI sequence that is capable of quantifying luminal water fraction with a substantially improved time efficiency. The sequence incorporated multiple readout echo-trains into diffusion-weighted EPI, together with a 2D RF excitation pulse to reduce the FOV, thereby enabling multiple TEs in one shot. With this sequence, we have evaluated the volume fractions of lumen and non-lumen tissues in the human prostate.