Comparison of Reduced and Full Field of View in Diffusion‐Weighted MRI on Image Quality: A Meta‐Analysis

Background Reduced field of view (rFOV) diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) in MRI shows potential for enhanced image quality compared with traditional full field of view (fFOV) DWI. Evaluating rFOV DWI's impact on image quality is important for clinical adoption. Objective To assess the efficacy of rFOV DWI in improving image quality, focusing on artifact reduction, signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) improvement, and lesion detectability. Study Type Meta‐analysis. Population Systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science ending in January 2024. Thirteen studies with 765 participants focusing on DWI quality using rFOV was analyzed. Field Strength/Sequence SS‐EPI, Rtr‐SS‐EPI, 2D‐SS‐EPI at 3.0 T. Assessment Two investigators performed the data extraction. QUADAS‐2 assessed bias. The image quality assessment of rFOV and fFOV DWI were compared. Statistical Tests Standardized mean difference (SMD) was utilized to evaluate and standardize MRI image quality. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I 2 statistic and publication bias was evaluated with Egger's test. Results The QUADAS‐2 analysis revealed that most studies exhibited a low risk of bias and minimal concerns regarding applicability. Statistical analysis indicated that rFOV DWI yielded higher subjective image quality scores (SMD = 0.535, 95% CI: 0.339, 0.731, I 2 = 45.7%) compared with fFOV DWI and was more effective in reducing artifacts (SMD = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.209, 0.672, I 2 = 42.3%) than fFOV DWI. However, a decrease in SNR was noted with rFOV DWI (SMD = −0.670, 95% CI: −1.187 to −0.152, I 2 = 87.9%). Additionally, rFOV DWI demonstrated enhancements in lesion visibility (SMD = 0.432, 95% CI: −1.187, −0.152, I 2 = 53.1%) and anatomical details (SMD = 0.598, 95% CI: 0.121, 1.075, I 2 = 90.8%). Data Conclusion rFOV DWI enhances MRI image quality by reducing artifacts and improving lesion visibility with a SNR trade‐off. Evidence Level 3 Technical Efficacy Stage 1