Synopsis

The cancer applications of DWI-derived ADC values are limited because ADC values are non-specific and have complicated relationships with pathological changes in biological tissues. Therefore, sophisticated biophysical tissue models have been developed for extracting the most salient underlying cellular properties which can be associated with specific pathological changes. This education talk first covers the basics of how to derive cellular properties from diffusion signals using pragmatic biophysical models, then provides example applications of how the DWI-derived cellular properties (notably, cell size) can improve the cancer treatment response assessment, and last discusses some technical considerations related to practical and clinical feasibility.