Quantifying Diffusion & Clinical Application
Sunrise Course
ORGANIZERS: Durgesh Dwivedi, Houchun Hu, Mami Iima, Janio Szklaruk
Wednesday, 14 May 2025
316C
07:00 -
08:00
Moderators: Lori Arlinghaus & Virendra Mishra
Session Number: S-W-01
No CME/CE Credit
Session Number: S-W-01
Overview
This session will cover the quantification of diffusion in clinical applications, focusing on standardized techniques, advanced methodologies, and their application in various body regions. Attendees will gain insights into the latest developments in diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) methods, enhancing their ability to implement these techniques in clinical practice.
Target Audience
Medical physicists, radiologists and other healthcare professionals interested in diffusion MRI.
Educational Objectives
As a result of attending this course, participants should be able to:
• Apply standardized techniques for diffusion-weighted imaging;
• Identify advanced diffusion-weighted imaging techniques and their clinical applications; and
• Apply intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) methods in clinical practice.
| 07:00 | | Standardized Techniques & Application of DWI Savannah Partridge Keywords: Contrast mechanisms: Diffusion, Body: Body, Cross-organ: Cancer Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is playing an increasing role across multiple clinical applications, particularly in oncology for improving cancer detection, diagnostic accuracy, and guiding treatment decisions. Conventional DWI techniques to measure the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) are well established, with varying levels of clinical adoption. We will review some of these promising applications, discuss quality considerations, and highlight standardization initiatives by RSNA’s Quantitative Imaging Biomarkers Alliance (QIBA) and other organizations to facilitate more widespread clinical use of quantitative DWI. |
| 07:20 | | Advanced DWI Techniques & Applications Bachir Taouli Keywords: Contrast mechanisms: Diffusion, Body: Body, Cross-organ: Cancer DWI has traditionally been used in neuroimaging, but advancements have expanded its applications to outside the brain. This technique is increasingly valuable in oncology, abdominal/pelvic and musculoskeletal imaging. DWI aids in tumor detection and characterization without the use of a contrast agent, making it a non-invasive tool for various clinical and research applications. We will discuss advanced DWI techniques beyond monoexponential ADC, such as intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), diffusion spectral imaging and diffusion kurtosis and their potential applications. We will also discuss the integration of DWI in radiomics analysis. |
| 07:40 | | IVIM Methods Susi Rauh Keywords: Contrast mechanisms: Diffusion, Contrast mechanisms: Perfusion, Image acquisition: Quantification Intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) is a diffusion MRI method that allows the simultaneous assessment of tissue diffusion and perfusion. IVIM has shown potential for diagnosis and treatment monitoring in various diseases and organs. Considering the effect of perfusion on the diffusion signal can also improve the repeatability of diffusion metrics and avoid a perfusion-related bias. This talk will cover the basic principles of IVIM, considerations for acquiring IVIM in different organs across the body, fitting methods, applications of IVIM, and advanced IVIM techniques. |