Diffusion MRI: apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in the normal brain and a classification of brain disorders based on ADC values

• Published in: Computerized medical imaging and graphics Vol. 25; no. 4; pp. 299 - 326
• Main Author: Sener, R.N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2001; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Apparent diffusion coefficient; Biological and medical sciences; Body Water - diagnostic imaging; Brain; Brain Diseases - classification; Brain Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Brain Diseases - pathology; Case-Control Studies; Child; Child, Preschool; Classification of brain disorders, diffusion MRI; Diffusion; Diffusion-weighted MR imaging; Female; Humans; Image analysis; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; Medical imaging; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nervous system; Nervous system involvement in other diseases. Miscellaneous; Neurology; Neurophysiology; Normal brain, diffusion MRI; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Radionuclide Imaging; Reference Values; Tissue; Classification of brain disorders, diffusion MRI; Normal brain, diffusion MRI; Diffusion-weighted MR imaging; Apparent diffusion coefficient; Human; Evaluation; Nervous system diseases; Artefact; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; White matter; Cerebral disorder; Weighting; Central nervous system disease; Classification; Technique; Diagnostic aid; Diffusion coefficient; Medical application
• ISSN: 0895-6111; 1879-0771
• DOI: 10.1016/S0895-6111(00)00083-5

Diffusion-weighted imaging, dependent on motion of water molecules, provides information regarding tissue integrity. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in the normal brain parenchyma, and those in a variety of lesions were studied by echo-planar diffusion MRI in 310 cases. Brain disorders were classified based on their ADC values, taking the ADC values of the normal brain white matter as the principal category. In the normal white matter ADC ranges were 0.60–1.05×10 −3 mm 2/s, and the mean ADC value was 0.84±0.11×10 −3 mm 2/s. It was possible to distribute brain disorders, as well as artefacts on diffusion MRI to five major categories: category 1, ADC similar to normal white matter; category 2, ADC lower than normal white matter; category 3, ADC higher than normal white matter; category 4, ADC similar to CSF; and category 5, markedly low or high ADC. Further studies can provide addition of different lesions as well as refinements of these categories.