Evaluation of renal dysfunction using texture analysis based on DWI, BOLD, and susceptibility-weighted imaging.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the value of texture analysis based on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), blood oxygen level-dependent MRI (BOLD), and susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) in evaluating renal dysfunction.

METHODS: Seventy-two patients (mean age 53.72 ± 13.46 years) underwent MRI consisting of DWI, BOLD, and SWI. According to their estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), the patients were classified into either severe renal function impairment (sRI, eGFR < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 ), non-severe renal function impairment (non-sRI, eGFR ≥ 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 , and < 80 mL/min/1.73 m2 ), or control (CG, eGFR ≥ 80 mL/min/1.73 m2 ) groups. Thirteen texture features were extracted and then were analyzed to select the most valuable for discerning the three groups with each imaging method. A ROC curve was performed to compare the capacities of the features to differentiate non-sRI from sRI or CG.

RESULTS: Six features proved to be the most valuable for assessing renal dysfunction: 0.25QuantileDWI , 0.5QuantileDWI , HomogeneityDWI , EntropyBOLD , SkewnessSWI , and CorrelationSWI . Three features derived from DWI (0.25QuantileDWI , 0.5QuantileDWI , and HomogeneityDWI ) were smaller in sRI than in non-sRI; EntropyBOLD and CorrelationSWI were smaller in non-sRI than in CG (p < 0.05). 0.25QuantileDWI , 0.5QuantileDWI , and HomogeneityDWI showed similar capacities for differentiating sRI from non-sRI. Similarly, EntropyBOLD and CorrelationSWI showed equal capacities for differentiating non-sRI from CG.

CONCLUSION: Texture analysis based on DWI, BOLD, and SWI can assist in assessing renal dysfunction, and texture features based on BOLD and SWI may be suitable for assessing renal dysfunction during early stages.

KEY POINTS: • Texture analysis based on MRI techniques allowed for assessing renal dysfunction. • Texture features based on BOLD and SWI, but not DWI, may be suitable for assessing renal function impairment during early stages. • SWI exhibited a similar capacity to BOLD for assessing renal dysfunction.