title: Whole-body diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) provides information on the diffusivity of water molecules in the human body. Technological advances and the development of the concept of diffusion-weighted whole-body imaging with background body signal suppression (DWIBS) have opened the path for routine clinical whole-body DWI. Whole-body DWI allows detection and characterization of both oncological and non-oncological lesions throughout the entire body. This article reviews the basic principles of DWI and the development of whole-body DWI, illustrates its potential clinical applications, and discusses its limitations and challenges.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands. thomaskwee@gmail.com
authors.forename: Thomas C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Kwee
authors.forename: Taro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahara
authors.forename: Reiji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ochiai
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Katahira
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van Cauteren
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Imai
authors.forename: Rutger A J
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Nievelstein
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Luijten
mesh_terms: D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D051598:Whole Body Imaging / Q000379:methods*