The principle and clinical application of diffusion-weighted MR imaging / 医学研究生学报

ABSTRACT

Different from conventional MRI, Diffusion-weighted(DW) magnetic resonance(MR)imaging is dependent on the molecular motion of water, and provides information on the physiologic state of the brain. In the diagnosis of acute cerebral infarction,the sensitivity is 94% and specificity is 100%. On MRDW imaging, the epidermoid tumors and cerebrospinal fluid or arachnoid cysts, subdura effusions and subdural empyemas,abscess cavities or empyemas and necrotic tumors could be differentiated accurately. MRDW imaging also provides adjunctive information for the diagnosis and evaluation of other cerebral diseases including neoplasms, intracranial infections, traumatic brain injury, and demyelinating processes. As a valuable technique, diffusion-weighted MR imaging should be considered an essential sequence on the diagnosis of brain stroke, and its use in most brain MR studies is recommended.