title: Extracranial applications of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: Diffusion-weighted MRI has become more and more popular in the last couple of years. It is already an accepted diagnostic tool for patients with acute stroke, but is more difficult to use for extracranial applications due to technical challenges mostly related to motion sensitivity and susceptibility variations (e.g., respiration and air-tissue boundaries). However, thanks to the newer technical developments, applications of body DW-MRI are starting to emerge. In this review, we aim to provide an overview of the current status of the published data on DW-MRI in extracranial applications. A short introduction to the physical background of this promising technique is provided, followed by the current status, subdivided into three main topics, the functional evaluation, tissue characterization and therapy monitoring.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Neuroradiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Bern, Inselspital, Freiburgstrasse 10, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland. Harriet.Thoeny@insel.ch
authors.forename: Harriet C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Thoeny
authors.forename: Frederik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Keyzer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D012466:Salivary Gland Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media