title: Diffusion-weighted and diffusion-tensor imaging of normal and diseased uterus.
abstract: Owing to technical advances and improvement of the software, diffusion weighted imaging and diffusion tensor imaging (DWI and DTI) greatly improved the diagnostic value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the pelvic region. These imaging sequences can exhibit important tissue contrast on the basis of random diffusion (Brownian motion) of water molecules in tissues. Quantitative measurements can be done with DWI and DTI by apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA) values respectively. ADC and FA values may be changed by various physiological and pathological conditions providing additional information to conventional MRI. The quantitative DWI assists significantly in the differentiation of benign and malignant lesions. It can demonstrate the microstructural architecture and celluler density of the normal and diseased uterine zones. On the other hand, DWI and DTI are useful for monitoring the treatment outcome of the uterine lesions. In this review, we discussed advantages of DWI and DTI of the normal and diseased uterus.
authors.affiliation: Duygu Kara Bozkurt, Depatment of Radiology, School of Medicine, Kafkas University, 36000 Kars,Turkey.
authors.forename: Duygu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kara Bozkurt
authors.affiliation: Duygu Kara Bozkurt, Depatment of Radiology, School of Medicine, Kafkas University, 36000 Kars,Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bozkurt
authors.affiliation: Duygu Kara Bozkurt, Depatment of Radiology, School of Medicine, Kafkas University, 36000 Kars,Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nazli
authors.affiliation: Duygu Kara Bozkurt, Depatment of Radiology, School of Medicine, Kafkas University, 36000 Kars,Turkey.
authors.forename: Ilhan Nahit
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Mutlu
authors.affiliation: Duygu Kara Bozkurt, Depatment of Radiology, School of Medicine, Kafkas University, 36000 Kars,Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozgur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kilickesmez
keywords: Diffusion tensor imaging; Diffusion weighted imaging; Magnetic resonance imaging; Uterus