title: Diffusion tensor MR imaging and fiber tractography: technical considerations.
abstract: This second article of the 2-part review builds on the theoretic background provided by the first article to cover the major technical factors that affect image quality in diffusion imaging, including the acquisition sequence, magnet field strength, gradient amplitude, and slew rate as well as multichannel radio-frequency coils and parallel imaging. The sources of many common diffusion image artifacts are also explored in detail. The emphasis is on optimizing these technical factors for state-of-the-art diffusion-weighted imaging and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) based on the best available evidence in the literature. An overview of current methods for quantitative analysis of DTI data and fiber tractography in clinical research is also provided.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143-0628, USA. pratik@radiology.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mukherjee
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Berman
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Henry
mesh_terms: D016477:Artifacts; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical