(DTI) Diffusion tensor imaging is the more sophisticated form of DWI, which allows for the determination of directionality as well as the magnitude of water diffusion. This kind of MR imaging can estimates damage to nerve fibers that connect the area of the brain affected by the stroke to brain regions that are distant from it, and can be used to determine the effectiveness of stroke prevention medications.
DTI (FiberTrak) enables to visualize white matter fibers in the brain and can map (trace image) subtle changes in the white matter associated with diseases such as multiple sclerosis and epilepsy, as well as assessing diseases where the brain's wiring is abnormal, such as schizophrenia.
The fractional anisotropy (FA) gives information about the shape of the diffusion tensor at each voxel. The FA is based on the normalized variance of the eigenvalues. The fractional anisotropy reflects differences between an isotropic diffusion and a linear diffusion. The FA range is between 0 and 1 (0 = isotropic diffusion, 1 = highly directional).
The development of new imaging methods and some useful analysis techniques, such as 3-dimensional anisotropy contrast (3DAC) and spatial tracking of the diffusion tensor tractography (DTT), are currently under study.

The process by which molecules or other particles intermingle and migrate due to their random thermal motion. Microscopic particles are jittering around with translational and rotational motions as a result of their thermal energy, which is half the Boltzmann constant multiplied by the absolute temperature of the system (0.5kT) per degree of freedom (3 directions of translation and 3 directions of rotation for ordinary particles).
MRI provides a sensitive technique for measuring diffusion of some substances. These diffusive processes mean that particles reach areas of low from areas of high concentration, thus leading to equilibration. In body fluids, the distribution of capillaries within tissues is such that transport over macroscopic distances is accomplished by the blood circulation, while over intercapillary distances substances are carried by diffusion. The fluid diffusion constant is itself inversely proportional to the viscosity and the radius of the diffusing particles.

See also Diffusion Tensor Imaging and Diffusion Weighted Imaging.

(DWI) Magnetic resonance imaging is sensitive to diffusion, because the diffusion of water molecules along a field gradient reduces the MR signal. In areas of lower diffusion the signal loss is less intense and the display from this areas is brighter. The use of a bipolar gradient pulse and suitable pulse sequences permits the acquisition of diffusion weighted images (images in which areas of rapid proton diffusion can be distinguished from areas with slow diffusion).
Based on echo planar imaging, multislice DWI is today a standard for imaging brain infarction. With enhanced gradients, the whole brain can be scanned within seconds. The degree of diffusion weighting correlates with the strength of the diffusion gradients, characterized by the b-value, which is a function of the gradient related parameters: strength, duration, and the period between diffusion gradients.
Certain illnesses show restrictions of diffusion, for example demyelinization and cytotoxic edema. Areas of cerebral infarction have decreased apparent diffusion, which results in increased signal intensity on diffusion weighted MRI scans. DWI has been demonstrated to be more sensitive for the early detection of stroke than standard pulse sequences and is closely related to temperature mapping.
DWIBS is a new diffusion weighted imaging technique for the whole body that produces PET-like images. The DWIBS sequence has been developed with the aim to detect lymph nodes and to differentiate normal and hyperplastic from metastatic lymph nodes. This may be possible caused by alterations in microcirculation and water diffusivity within cancer metastases in lymph nodes.

See also Diffusion Weighted Sequence, Perfusion Imaging, ADC Map, Apparent Diffusion Coefficient, and Diffusion Tensor Imaging.

Mathematically, the eigenvalue is the factor by which a linear transformation multiplies one of its eigenvectors. In an appropriate spatial reference frame, the diffusion tensor is diagonal (contains only three nonzero elements). These elements in diffusion tensor imaging are called the eigenvalues. The vectors characterizing the reference frame are the eigenvectors.

The principal advantage of MRI at high field is the increase in signal to noise ratio. This can be used to improve anatomic and/or temporal resolution and reduce scan time while preserving image quality. MRI devices for whole body imaging for human use are available up to 3 tesla (3T). Functional MRI (fMRI) and MR spectroscopy (MRS) benefit significantly. In addition, 3T machines have a great utility in applications such as TOF MRA and DTI. Higher field strengths are used for imaging of small parts of the body or scientific animal experiments. Higher contrast may permit reduction of gadolinium doses and, in some cases, earlier detection of disease.
Using high field MRI//MRS, the RF-wavelength and the dimension of the human body complicating the development of MR coils. The absorption of RF power causes heating of the tissue. The energy deposited in the patient's tissues is fourfold higher at 3T than at 1.5T. The specific absorption rate (SAR) induced temperature changes of the human body are the most important safety issue of high field MRI//MRS.
Susceptibility and chemical shift dispersion increase like T1, therefore high field MRI occasionally exhibits imaging artifacts. Most are obvious and easily recognized but some are subtle and mimic diseases. A thorough understanding of these artifacts is important to avoid potential pitfalls. Some imaging techniques or procedures can be utilized to remove or identify artifacts.

See also Diffusion Tensor Imaging.

See also the related poll result: 'In 2010 your scanner will probably work with a field strength of'