Main applications of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in liver diseases

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) is a functional imaging technique which can exhibit the diffusion characteristics of water molecules in vivo and thus indirectly reflect cellular density, the integrity of cell membrane, and capillary perfusion. The main applications of DW-MRI in hepatic lesions, especially in hepatocellular carcinoma, staging of liver fibrosis, and monitoring of tumor therapy, are described. Although this technique, which can be applied without need for contrast agent, is still insufficient, it will have broad application prospects with the development of software and hardware