Acute and chronic changes of the apparent diffusion coefficient in neurological disorders: biophysical mechanisms and possible underlying histopathology

Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of the brain has become a valuable tool for the reliable detection and diagnosis of several neurological disorders. Although DWI is in wide use in daily practice, the underlying biophysical mechanisms that contribute to changes in the apparent diffusion coefficient (...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Gass, Achim (Author) , Niendorf, Thoralf (Author) , Hirsch, Jochen (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 1 May 2001
In: Journal of the neurological sciences
Year: 2001, Volume: 186, Pages: S15-S23
ISSN:1878-5883
DOI:10.1016/S0022-510X(01)00487-7
Online Access:Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-510X(01)00487-7
Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022510X01004877
Get full text
Author Notes:A Gass, T Niendorf, J.G Hirsch
Description
Summary:Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of the brain has become a valuable tool for the reliable detection and diagnosis of several neurological disorders. Although DWI is in wide use in daily practice, the underlying biophysical mechanisms that contribute to changes in the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) are still under discussion. Alterations in the apparent water diffusion rate reflect pathological changes in the brain tissue state, via changes in the diffusion characteristics of the intra- and extra-cellular water compartments including restricted diffusion, water exchange across permeable boundaries, the concept of the extra-cellular tortuosity and the intra- and extra-cellular volume fraction. A reduction of the ADC has been detected in acute neurological diseases, while disease states associated with dominant acute vasogenic edema formation or chronic tissue destruction usually show elevations of the ADC. Compromise of energy metabolism is likely to contribute to a reduction of the ADC while already minor structural disintegration may contribute to elevations of the ADC.
Item Description:Gesehen am 27.05.2022
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1878-5883
DOI:10.1016/S0022-510X(01)00487-7