Applications of MR diffusion tensor imaging in clinical neurology

Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) stands for a relatively advanced MRI technique in which image contrast is related to differences in motion of water molecules within the tissue. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) represents the rate of water motion. DWI has been proved to be effective clinically in the early detection of acute cerebral ischemia. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) could estimate isotropic and anisotropic diffusion. DTI allows effective evaluation of diseases that interfere the integrity of white matter, especially white matter tracts. In this paper, the current applications of DWI in central nervous system are reviewed, and special attention is paid to applications of DTI.