PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Rogers, Cynthia
AU  - Neil, Jeffrey J.
TI  - The Use of Diffusion Imaging to Detect Microstructure in the Preterm Brain
AID  - 10.1542/neo.14-10-e483
DP  - 2013 Oct 01
TA  - NeoReviews
PG  - e483--e489
VI  - 14
IP  - 10
4099  - http://neoreviews.aappublications.org/content/14/10/e483.short
4100  - http://neoreviews.aappublications.org/content/14/10/e483.full
SO  - NeoReviews2013 Oct 01; 14
AB  - Abbreviations:ADC, apparent diffusion coefficientALIC, anterior limb of the internal capsuleFA, fractional anisotropyMR, magnetic resonanceMRI, magnetic resonance imagingPLIC, posterior limb of the internal capsulePMA, postmenstrual ageWMI, white matter injuryDiffusion magnetic resonance imaging utilizes the translational motion of water within tissue to provide information on a variety of tissue characteristics, including microstructure. It provides quantitative measures that reflect the normal maturational changes of brain microstructure, as well as the impact of brain injury. These applications make diffusion imaging a particularly attractive tool for evaluating preterm infants. In this review, we discuss the basic concepts underlying diffusion imaging, commonly used terminology, and the use of diffusion imaging to evaluate tissue microstructure in preterm neonates.