Quantitative diffusion MRI of the abdomen and pelvis

Area of Science:

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Medical Physics
• Radiology

Background:

• Diffusion MRI is valuable for evaluating abdominal and pelvic diseases like cancer in organs such as the liver and prostate.
• Quantitative diffusion MRI enhances tissue characterization for disease detection, staging, and treatment monitoring compared to qualitative methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the potential and challenges of quantitative diffusion MRI in abdominal and pelvic imaging.
• To highlight emerging technical developments addressing limitations in quantitative diffusion MRI for improved clinical application.

Main Methods:

• Utilizes quantitative diffusion MRI with multiple diffusion encodings and quantitative mapping of diffusion parameters.
• Focuses on addressing technical acquisition challenges like physiologic motion, image distortions, and low signal-to-noise ratio.

Main Results:

• Quantitative diffusion MRI can improve standardization and tissue characterization for disease evaluation.
• Technical challenges currently limit the performance and clinical outcomes of abdominal and pelvic diffusion MRI.

Conclusions:

• Emerging technical developments show promise for overcoming current limitations in quantitative diffusion MRI.
• Systematic validation, including multicenter studies, is crucial to realize the full potential of quantitative diffusion MRI for abdominal and pelvic imaging.