The clinical applications of diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DW-MRI) in the body are rapidly evolving. This volume highlights state-of-the-art techniques for performing DW-MRI measurement in the body and addresses important practical issues. Key points are highlighted that will help radiologists and technologists to acquire high-quality images for disease assessment and to adapt the technique to their own clinical practice or research. The major clinical applications of DW-MRI in the body, both oncological and non-oncological, are extensively illustrated, providing readers with a broad insight into the growing uses of the technique. The final section addresses future developments, considering the potential importance of the technique in relation to drug development and the ways in which DW-MRI might be combined with other functional imaging techniques to further improve disease assessment.

Zusammenfassung
It is a great privilege to introduce this book devoted to the current and future roles in research and clinical practice of another exciting new development in MRI: Diffusi- weighted MR imaging. This new, quick and non-invasive technique, which requires no contrast media or i- izing radiation, offers great potential for the detection and characterization of disease in the body as well as for the assessment of tumour response to therapy. Indeed, whereas DW-MRI is already ? rmly established for the study of the brain, progress in MR techn- ogy has only recently enabled its successful application in the body. Although the main focus of this book is on the role of DW-MRI in patients with malignant tumours, n- oncological emerging applications in other conditions are also discussed. The editors of this volume, Dr. D. M. Koh and Prof. H. Thoeny, are internationally well known for their pioneering work in the ? eld and their original contributions to the l- erature on DW-MRI of the body. I am very much indebted to them for the enthusiasm and engagement with which they prepared and edited this splendid volume in a record short time for our series Medical Radiology Diagnostic section.

Inhalt
Principles and Background.- Principles of Diffusion-Weighted Imaging (DW-MRI) as Applied to Body Imaging.- Techniques and Optimization.- Qualitative and Quantitative Analyses: Image Evaluation and Interpretation.- Non-Oncological Applications in the Body.- MR Neurography: Imaging of the Peripheral Nerves.- Evaluation of Organ Function.- DW-MRI Assessment of Diffuse Liver Disease.- Oncological Applications in the Body.- DW-MRI for Disease Detection.- DW-MRI for Disease Characterization in the Abdomen.- DW-MRI for Disease Characterization in the Pelvis.- DW-MRI Assessment of Cancer Response to Chemoradiation.- DW-MRI Assessment of Treatment Response to Minimally Invasive Therapy.- Evaluation of Lymph Nodes Using DW-MRI.- Evaluation of Malignant Bone Disease Using DW-MRI.- Diffusion-Weighted Whole-Body Imaging with Background Body Signal Suppression (DWIBS).- Future Developments.- Multifunctional MR Imaging Assessments: A Look into the Future.- The Potential of DW-MRI as an Imaging Biomarker in Clinical Trials.