Multicenter, multivendor phantom study to validate proton density fat fraction and T2* values calculated using vendor-provided 6-point DIXON methods

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the reproducibility of proton density fat fraction (PDFF) and T2* in a fat-water phantom on three different 3 T MRI systems using 6-point DIXON methods. Methods A phantom which included varying fat volume percentages (true fat fraction [FF]) was scanned by three 3 T MR machines, and PDFF and T2* were measured. Results The mean difference between true FF and PDFF was small in all vendors (−2.11% to 0.41%). However, the difference ratio for T2* values was large among vendors (1.79 to 3.36). Conclusions True FF and PDFF were consistent across vendors; however, T2* varied greatly.