Estimation of diffusion, perfusion and fractional volumes using a multi-compartment relaxation-compensated intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) signal model

Compartmental diffusion MRI models that account for intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) of blood perfusion allow for estimation of the fractional volume of the microvascular compartment. Conventional IVIM models are known to be biased by not accounting for partial volume effects caused by free water and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), or for tissue-dependent relaxation effects. In this work, a three-compartment model (tissue, free water and blood) that includes relaxation terms is introduced. To estimate the model parameters, in vivo human data were collected with multiple echo times (TE), inversion times (TI) and b-values, which allowed a direct relaxation estimate alongside estimation of perfusion, diffusion and fractional volume parameters. Compared to conventional two-compartment models (with and without relaxation compensation), the three-compartment model showed less effects of CSF contamination. The proposed model yielded significantly different volume fractions of blood and tissue compared to the non-relaxation-compensated model, as well as to the conventional two-compartment model, suggesting that previously reported parameter ranges, using models that do not account for relaxation, should be reconsidered.