DTI
Pronunciation: dee-tee-eye
Also written as: DTI — diffusion tensor imaging
MRI technique that measures water diffusion to assess white matter microstructure.
Full Definition
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a specialized MRI technique that measures the restricted diffusion of water molecules in brain tissue to assess white matter microstructure and integrity. DTI quantifies the directionality and magnitude of water diffusion using metrics such as fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD). The technique is particularly sensitive to white matter organization and can detect subtle changes in fiber tract integrity associated with development, aging, and neurological disorders. DTI data forms the basis for tractography reconstructions and connectivity analyses in neuroinformatics.
Usage
Usage note: Uppercase when abbreviated; distinct from general diffusion imaging techniques.
In Context
- "DTI revealed reduced fractional anisotropy in the corpus callosum." — Clinical report
- "The DTI acquisition used 64 diffusion directions with b=1000 s/mm²." — Technical protocol