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Diffusion-Weighted Imaging

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  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology

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Synonyms

DWI

Definition

Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) produces magnetic resonance images of biological tissues weighted with the local characteristics of water diffusion. Acquisition of images using regular MRI utilizes the behavior of protons in water to generate contrasting appearances between features of the different tissues being studied. This ability to produce contrast across tissues is called “weighting” and is stimulated by imposing a strong magnetic field which makes the protons in water molecules move differently depending on their specific tissue environment. In certain clinical situations, this can generate contrast between an area of pathology and the surrounding healthy tissue. In diffusion-weighted imaging, the specific magnetic field used causes the protons to behave in a particular manner that varies depending on the characteristics of the tissue. Each section of the image that is produced has a unique apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and each section can then...

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References

  • Gonzalez, R. G., Schaefer, P. W., Buonanno, F. S., et al. (1999). Diffusion-weighted MR imaging: Diagnostic accuracy in patients imaged within 6 hours of stroke symptom onset. Radiology, 210, 155–162.

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  • Mantilla-Garcia, D., Mourand, I., Gascou, G., Riquelme, C., Dargazanli, C., et al. (2017). Diffusion weighted imaging and time in acute ischemic stroke, is there any relation? Journal of Neuroradiology, 44(6), 353–360.

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  • Schaefer, P. W., Grant, P. E., & Gonzalez, R. G. (2000). Diffusion-weighted MR imaging of the brain. Radiology, 217, 331–345.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA

    Elliot J. Roth

Authors
  1. Elliot J. Roth
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Correspondence to Elliot J. Roth .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA

    Jeffrey S. Kreutzer

  2. Kessler Foundation, Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange, NJ, USA

    John DeLuca

  3. Independent Practice, Wynnewood, PA, USA

    Bruce Caplan

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Roth, E.J. (2018). Diffusion-Weighted Imaging. In: Kreutzer, J.S., DeLuca, J., Caplan, B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57111-9_2174

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