title: Fetal diffusion imaging: pearls and solutions.
abstract: Recently, diffusion-weighted (DWI) magnetic resonance imaging of the fetus has evolved from a basic research application to an important diagnostic imaging tool in fetal magnetic resonance imaging. Although technically challenging and still plagued with several sources of artifacts, DWI can add clinically important information, which cannot be provided by any other prenatal imaging modality. Its potential to noninvasively probe tissue structures on the basis of Brownian molecular motion enables the detection of early changes associated with acute fetal diseases, as well as structural alterations of functionally diverse compartments of different fetal organs. In this article, the current clinical applications of fetal brain and body DWI are outlined, as well as its current limitations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. gregor.kasprian@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: Gregor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kasprian
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Del Río
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Prayer
mesh_terms: D016880:Anisotropy; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005333:Fetus / Q000196:embryology*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D014551:Urinary Tract / Q000196:embryology; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis