Evaluation of a Novel Continuously Distributed Diffusion Model in Normal Human Brain

He Wang¹, Yong Zhang¹, Guang Cao¹

A novel continuously distributed exponential model was explored to quantify diffusion in normal human brain. Diffusion-weighted images were acquired with twenty-one b-values ranging from 0 to 4000 s/mm2 to calculate the continuous distribution of diffusion coefficients in white matter, gray matter and cerebrospinal fluid. White matter showed different diffusion rates among three orthogonal orientations as contrast to CSF and gray matter with similar diffusion rates in all directions. More widely dispersed diffusion distribution in white matter benefits from the application of the continuously distributed exponential model. This technique may be used to characterize diffusion heterogeneity in different types of tumors.