The Mathematics of Quasi-Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging

oleh: Thomas R. Barrick, Catherine A. Spilling, Matt G. Hall, Franklyn A. Howe

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2021-07-01

Deskripsi

Quasi-diffusion imaging (QDI) is a novel quantitative diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) technique that enables high quality tissue microstructural imaging in a clinically feasible acquisition time. QDI is derived from a special case of the continuous time random walk (CTRW) model of diffusion dynamics and assumes water diffusion is locally Gaussian within tissue microstructure. By assuming a Gaussian scaling relationship between temporal (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi>α</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>) and spatial (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi>β</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>) fractional exponents, the dMRI signal attenuation is expressed according to a diffusion coefficient, <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi>D</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula> (in mm<sup>2</sup> s<sup>−1</sup>), and a fractional exponent, <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi>α</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>. Here we investigate the mathematical properties of the QDI signal and its interpretation within the quasi-diffusion model. Firstly, the QDI equation is derived and its power law behaviour described. Secondly, we derive a probability distribution of underlying Fickian diffusion coefficients via the inverse Laplace transform. We then describe the functional form of the quasi-diffusion propagator, and apply this to dMRI of the human brain to perform mean apparent propagator imaging. QDI is currently unique in tissue microstructural imaging as it provides a simple form for the inverse Laplace transform and diffusion propagator directly from its representation of the dMRI signal. This study shows the potential of QDI as a promising new model-based dMRI technique with significant scope for further development.