Talk:Diffusion MRI

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"a tensor (i.e. a symmetric positive definite 3 ×3 matrix)"

Diffusion tensors are positive definite, but this does not mean that all tensors are.

Merging Diffusion MRI and this article is not reasonable, because diffusion MRI relates to the measurement itself, but Diffusion-Tensor-MRI only to a special method of evaluating and analyzing the data, i.e. by mapping it to a second order symmetric tensor. There are a lot of other techniques such as q-Ball imaging (by David Solomon Tuch), q-Space imaging and other methods that are summed up by high angular resolution diffusion imaging (HARDI) that either depend on higher order tensors or other representations (such as spherical harmonics, that can be seen in this very special case a tensor represented in a spherical coordinate system - or other techniques, that base on discrete samplings of the sphere, exist, too.)

So there should be one article explaining the basics of diffusion imaging (compared to simple MRI) and one or more articles describing the methods of diffusion tensors, higher order tensors, HARDI, q-Space and qBall methods. So the split should be inbetween the measurement of the data and the analysis.

While I completely agree with you that Diffusion MRI and DT-MRI are by no means synonymous, my point is that the current WP-entries do not reflect the distinction sufficiently to warrant two different articles. At least 80% of the current article on Diffusion MRI repeats content from Diffusion Tensor MRI. As long as the articles are not more verbose, I don't see a problem in merging them, explicitly explaining the difference between the terms and letting one term redirect to the other (keep Diffusion MRI, if you wish — DTI is just a subset of it). If at some point the article should become too long, one may split it again in the way you suggest. --Thomas Schultz 16:38, 2 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] I agree

It seems the two are close enough and should be under a common title, preferably Diffusion MRI, as long as searching the terms DWI and DTI (and their respective expansions) link one to Diffusion MRI. That entry was more descriptive and conatined more useful information for a "dumb" GP, non-radiologist type.

P.S. Dr Schultz, that image is quite beautiful (or, as a teen would say "awesome") Mlintx 21:52, 6 July 2007 (UTC) Martin Lindenberg

I think they should be merged, there is simply not enough content to justify separate articles. They are separate things but until the DTI article becomes complicated enough it does justify its own article (the same as the single paragraph about MRA under the MRI article doesn't need its own article) --SBarnes 3 August 2007

[edit] Phrasing

I just noticed the following:

"This causes the millions of water molecules to precess simultaneously, and it is this precession of protons which produces signals in MRI."

For clarity, I am changing it to:

"This causes many of the protons in water molecules to precess simultaneously, producing signals in MRI."

-- J. Hengenius (grumpy_mr_gruff@yahoo.com) 10 March 2008 —Preceding unsigned comment added by 128.210.89.66 (talk) 15:57, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] History

when was this technology developed? It seems pretty new (and spectacular!!). --Shaggorama (talk) 08:58, 1 May 2008 (UTC)