Applications of diffusion‐weighted and diffusion tensor MRI to white matter diseases – a review

The contribution that diffusion‐weighted imaging has made to the understanding of white matter diseases is critically appraised and the quantitative nature of diffusion MRI is one of its major attractions; however, this is offset by the more advanced hardware required to collect diffusion‐ Weighted images reliably, and the more complex processing to produce quantitative parametric diffusion images.

Abstract

This paper reviews the current applications of diffusion-weighted and diffusion tensor MRI in diseases of the brain white matter. The contribution that diffusion-weighted imaging has made to our understanding of white matter diseases is critically appraised. The quantitative nature of diffusion MRI is one of its major attractions; however, this is offset by the more advanced hardware required to collect diffusion-weighted images reliably, and the more complex processing to produce quantitative parametric diffusion images. With the now common availability of scanners equipped to perform echo-planar imaging, the acquisition of diffusion tensor images is sure to become more widespread and routine.