Diffusion-weighted MR imaging of the liver

Diffusion-weighted imaging studies the motion of water molecules within a given tissue. Initially used for neuroradiological applications, it is now routinely used for abdominal imaging, especially liver imaging. The diffusion pulse sequence is a T2 echo-planar sequence where diffusion gradients are applied. In this article, we will review the sequence itself and the parameters used to optimize the sequence, quantitative and qualitative image evaluation, and the main applications for liver imaging: characterization of focal lesions, detection of focal lesions, evaluation of response to therapy and quantification of liver fibrosis.