What is diffusion in radiology?

Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) is a method of signal contrast generation based on the differences in Brownian motion. DWI is a method to evaluate the molecular function and micro-architecture of the human body.

What’s the difference between DWI and DTI?

While DWI refers to the contrast of the acquired images, DTI is a specific type of modeling of the DWI datasets.

How is DTI different from MRI?

The MRI scanner measures this signal difference and displays the activity as a colored area (Fig. 1). Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) is a technique that detects how water travels along the white matter tracts in the brain (Fig. 2).

What is DWI MRI for?

DWI is commonly used to detect and stage tumors, and also to monitor tumor response to treatment over time. DWI can also be collected to visualize the whole body using a technique called ‘diffusion-weighted whole-body imaging with background body signal suppression’ (DWIBS).

What does diffuse mean in MRI?

Diffusion MRI (dMRI) is a MRI method that measures molecular diffusion in biological tissues. From: Chronic Pain and Brain Abnormalities, 2014.

What does diffusion tensor imaging DTI reveal?

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a novel imaging technique that can reveal non-invasively unique information of white matter (WM) microstructures within the central nervous system (CNS). DTI provides image contrast based on differences in the magnitude of diffusion of water molecules within the brain.

How is DTI performed?

The DTI tractography is performed in an MRI scanner, which is a large tube surrounded by a circular magnet that creates a magnetic field around you. You will lie on a table that slides into the MRI scanner. DTI tractography images rely on your ability to be still in order to create clear images.

Is DWI T1 or T2?

When we say “DWI” we usually are referring to what is in better terms an isotropic T2 weighted map as it represents the combination of actual diffusion values and T2 signal. It is a relatively low resolution image with the following appearance: grey matter: intermediate signal intensity (grey)