E-raamat: Quantifying Morphology and Physiology of the Human Body Using MRI

"Although traditionally a qualitative technique, MRI can be used to gather quantitative information on the structure and function of the human body. While historically applied to neurophysiology, MRI is now routinely being used to explore other organs and structures, especially the heart and skeleton. This volume reviews various MRI techniques for obtaining quantitative and physiological information of the human body. It compares and contrasts several different applications of MRI in quantitative research and on various body parts/structures, including data acquisition, processing, and analysis/interpretation. The book also explores new and emerging techniques and modeling"--Provided by publisher.

In the medical imaging field, clinicians and researchers are increasingly moving from the qualitative assessment of printed images to the quantitative evaluation of digital images since the quantitative techniques often improve diagnostic accuracy and complement clinical assessments by providing objective criteria. Despite this growing interest, the field lacks a comprehensive body of knowledge. Filling the need for a complete manual on these novel techniques, Quantifying Morphology and Physiology of the Human Body Using MRI presents a wide range of quantitative MRI techniques to study the morphology and physiology of the whole body, from the brain to musculoskeletal systems.

Illustrating the growing importance of quantitative MRI, the book delivers an indispensable reference for readers who would like to explore in vivo MRI techniques to quantify changes in the morphology and physiology of tissues caused by various disease mechanisms. With internationally renowned experts sharing their insight on the latest developments, the book goes beyond conventional MRI contrast mechanisms to include new techniques that measure electromagnetic and mechanical properties of tissues.

Each chapter offers comprehensive information on data acquisition, processing, and analysis techniques as well as clinical applications. The text organizes the techniques based on their primary use either in the brain or the body. Some of the techniques, such as diffusion-weighted imaging and diffusion tensor imaging, span several application areas, including brain imaging, cancer imaging, and musculoskeletal imaging. The book also covers up-and-coming quantitative techniques that explore tissue properties other than the presence of protons (or other MRI-observable nuclei) and their interactions with their environment. These novel techniques provide unique information about the electromagnetic and mechanical properties of tissues and introduce new frontiers of study into disease mechanisms.