DW-MRI is appealing as an imaging technique for several reasons. First, the imaging can be performed relatively quickly and thus has the potential to be widely generalized and adopted. Second, the technique does not require the administration of exogenous contrast medium, which is attractive in the light of potential serious adverse effects of gadolinium-based contrast media. Third, the technique yields both qualitative and quantitative information, the latter being of particular importance as development of quantitative imaging techniques is now acknowledged to be critical to the future of radiology.
DW-MRI yields unique information that refl ects microstructural and functional alterations in tissues. Although there are still many challenges ahead, early experience with the technique has shown substantial promise. We hope that this volume will demonstrate the exciting potentials of this technique, discussing the applications of DW-MRI along broad themes of clinical practice rather than by organ systems.
The book is divided into four sections. The first describes the principles, techniques and interpretation of DW-MRI in the body. The second focuses on reviewing the nononcological applications of DW-MRI in the body, including the evaluation of organ function. The third and largest section of the book highlights the oncological applications of DW-MRI for disease detection, disease characterization and assessment of tumour response to different therapeutic strategies. Dedicated chapters cover lymph node, bone and whole-body imaging using DW-MRI, as developments in these areas could have substantial impact on future clinical practice. Finally, the promise of multifunctional MR imaging and development of DW-MRI as a biomarker are discussed.
This book will stimulate, motivate and inspire radiologists working in non- academic as well as in academic institutions, to apply this novel non-invasive MR imaging technique to address critical questions in their clinical practice, making use of the unique information provided by the technique that is beyond morphological imaging.
Contents
Principles and Background
1 Principles of Diffusion-Weighted Imaging (DW-MRI) as Applied to Body Imaging
2 Techniques and Optimization
3 Qualitative and Quantitative Analyses: Image Evaluation and Interpretation
4 MR Neurography: Imaging of the Peripheral Nerves
5 Evaluation of Organ Function
6 DW-MRI Assessment of Diffuse Liver Disease
7 DW-MRI for Disease Detection
8 DW-MRI for Disease Characterization in the Abdomen
9 DW-MRI for Disease Characterization in the Pelvis
10 DW-MRI Assessment of Cancer Response to Chemoradiation
11 DW-MRI Assessment of Treatment Response to Minimally Invasive Therapy
12 Evaluation of Lymph Nodes Using DW-MRI
13 Evaluation of Malignant Bone Disease Using DW-MRI
14 Diffusion-Weighted Whole-Body Imaging with Background Body Signal Suppression (DWIBS)
15 Multifunctional MR Imaging Assessments: A Look into the Future
16 The Potential of DW-MRI as an Imaging Biomarker in Clinical Trials
Subject Index
List of Contributors
Product Details
- Hardcover: 299 pages
- Publisher: Springer; 1 edition (December 3, 2009)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 3540785752
- ISBN-13: 978-3540785750
- Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 7.7 x 0.8 inches
- Author: Dow-Mu Koh and Harriet C. Thoeny