Multiparametric functional MRI for the assessment of testicular spermatogenic function: a preliminary study

Motivation: To assess the application of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), Intravoxel Incoherent Motion (IVIM) and T1 mapping in evaluating testicular spermatogenic function. Goal(s): To investigate age-related changes in DWI, IVIM MRI and T1 mapping parameters of the testis. Approach: A prospective study was conducted with 103 healthy male volunteers, and parameters including apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), IVIM parameters (D, f, D*) and extracellular volume (ECV) fraction were examined for all subjects. Results: Statistically significant differences were found in the mean IVIM-derived f-values of normal testes across age groups. However, no significant differences were observed in the values of D, D*, ECV fraction, and ADC. Impact: The IVIM-derived f-value shows promising potential in the assessment of testicular spermatogenic function. It provides a reference for the anatomy and pathology of normal testes, and laying the foundation for future research on the application of IVIM in testicular lesions.