Tensor Encoding / Decoding

INTRODUCTION In the first talk of the session, Dr Peter Basser will have introduced the theory of diffusion in biological systems and shown how, in tissue with ordered structure on the length scale of the measurement volume (i.e., voxel), diffusion appears anisotropic. In such cases, the diffusion properties cannot be fully characterized by a scalar value. The next most complex model of diffusion is the diffusion tensor – a 3 x 3 symmetrical positive definite matrix. In this presentation, we will focus on how the diffusion is estimated and how quantitative parameters are derived from the tensor, with focus on obtaining robust values. Pitfalls, artefacts and their remediation will be covered in the talk by Dr Carlo Pierpaoli, while sequences will be covered by Dr Jim Pipe.