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Updated: Feb 7, 2026

Co-analysis of Brain Structure and Function using fMRI and Diffusion-weighted Imaging
Published on: November 8, 2012
Reduced visualization of cerebral infarction on diffusion-weighted images with short diffusion times
Arunnit Boonrod1,2, Akifumi Hagiwara3,4, Masaaki Hori1
1Department of Radiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 1-2-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan.
Purpose:
Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is a useful tool for early detection of cerebral infarction. However, recent reports have demonstrated that DWI with short effective diffusion time (∆eff) can obscure visualization of infarction.
Methods:
We report three cases, including four acute-to-subacute infarctions, that demonstrated reduced visualization of the infarctions on DWI with shorter ∆eff.
Results:
DWI was performed with different ∆eff: short and long ∆eff, using oscillating gradient spin-echo (OGSE) DWI, and intermediate ∆eff, using pulsed gradient spin-echo (PGSE) DWI. Different apparent diffusion coefficient values (due to different ∆eff) were also observed; these were considered to be the underlying causes of the under-evaluation of infarctions on DWI.
Conclusion:
The DWI with shorter ∆eff may obscure infarction. High-performance magnetic resonance imaging scanners with higher maximal gradient strength (Gmax) can perform DWI with shorter ∆eff than scanners with lower Gmax. Therefore, the appropriate ∆eff should be set for the detection of restricted diffusion.
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