Rice pads reduce geometric distortion of echo-planar diffusion-weighted images of the cervical spinal cord

Abstract

We investigated whether a rice pad could be used to reduce the geometric distortion in echo-planar diffusion-weighted images of the cervical spinal cord. In 10 healthy volunteers, we obtained sagittal plane images using the same imaging parameters with and without a rice pad. Two reviewers classified geometric distortion and visually assessed images. Use of a rice pad significantly reduced geometric distortion in the cervical spinal cord.