Greg J. Stanisz1
1Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Most of the changes in tissue microstructure caused by pathology result in altering physico-chemical environment of water protons and therefore affect its MR properties. Using MRI to reveal structural characteristics of tissue microstructure requires complex methods of data acquisition and analysis. Evaluation of tissue microstructure has been more successful in tissues with relatively simple structure which exhibit complex MR behaviour (blood, cartilage and white matter). There has been however some moderate success in evaluating tissue microstructure in more biologically complex systems. It has to be noted however, that such studies require independent validation of applied methodology using quantitative histopathology.