Test-retest repeatability of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) MRI in the cervical cord at 3T

Motivation: High precision of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) MRI parameters in the cervical cord can facilitate studies targeting perfusion impairment and substantiate clinical findings. Goal(s): To determine the test-retest repeatability of IVIM in the cervical cord using four different common model fitting approaches. Approach: Test-retest cardiac-gated IVIM acquisitions, sensitive to perfusion, were performed at 3T in 10 healthy subjects at C1-C3 levels. Reliability was assessed using relative test-retest differences, within-subject coefficients of variation and intraclass correlation coefficients. Results: IVIM parameters in the cervical cord showed high repeatability at the group level in the white and grey matter. Impact: The high test-retest repeatability of IVIM parameters in the cervical cord will help the interpretation of future clinical findings and support its relevance for applications in various neurological diseases affecting the spinal cord.