Measuring Perfusion in Peripheral Artery Disease Using an Advanced IVIM Method

Motivation: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is associated with diabetes, significant comorbidities and mortality-related to coexisting microvascular-disease (MVD) and injury. Goal(s): To better understand and phenotype PAD, we developed a novel method for intravascular incoherent motion (IVIM) that is clinically feasible and can calculate accurate IVIM-parameter maps reflective of perfusion and tissue viability. Approach: Our method uses mixture prior for estimating IVIM-parameters. This prior draws statistical power from all voxels to improve the estimate of every voxel's IVIM-parameters. Results: The proposed method calculates IVIM-parameter maps with plausible range of estimated f and D*. It improves the ability to distinguish between baseline and post-intervention perfusion changes. Impact: To better characterize and phenotype PAD, we developed a novel method based on mixture-prior for intravascular incoherent motion (IVIM). It shows improved ability to distinguish between baseline and post-intervention images, and could facilitate the early-diagnosis of PAD and coexisting MVD.