Abstract
This paper reviews the current applications of diffusion-weighted and diffusion tensor MRI in diseases of the brain white matter. The contribution that diffusion-weighted imaging has made to our understanding of white matter diseases is critically appraised. The quantitative nature of diffusion MRI is one of its major attractions; however, this is offset by the more advanced hardware required to collect diffusion-weighted images reliably, and the more complex processing to produce quantitative parametric diffusion images. With the now common availability of scanners equipped to perform echo-planar imaging, the acquisition of diffusion tensor images is sure to become more widespread and routine.
Copyright 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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Alzheimer Disease / metabolism
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Alzheimer Disease / pathology
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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / metabolism
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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / pathology
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Anisotropy
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Brain / metabolism
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Brain / pathology
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Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / metabolism
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Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / pathology
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Dementia, Multi-Infarct / metabolism
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Dementia, Multi-Infarct / pathology
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Demyelinating Diseases / metabolism*
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Demyelinating Diseases / pathology*
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Diffusion
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Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
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HIV Infections / metabolism
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HIV Infections / pathology
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Multiple Sclerosis / metabolism
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Multiple Sclerosis / pathology
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Neural Pathways / metabolism*
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Neural Pathways / pathology*
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Water / metabolism