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Should Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI) be translated as ‘扩散加权成像’ or ‘弥散加权成像’?
Authors:
Ma Chao, Department of Imaging Medicine, Shanghai Changhai Hospital
Li Mao, Philips RadOnc Application Training Manager
DWI is one of the most commonly used clinical examination sequences. Although its resolution is slightly lower than that of T1w and T2w, its significant advantage is that it provides qualitative images with good contrast for lesions and quantitative parameter information, making it the most widely used quantitative sequence in clinical applications.
Observing microscopic motion through a macroscopic lens is indeed very difficult. Thanks to Professor Yi Xiang J. Wang from the Chinese University of Hong Kong for his correction. In some of my earlier articles on the public account, I wrote that the pioneer of DWI is Denis Le Bihan, but Professor Wang timely pointed out and corrected me. The first to use a sequence structure similar to DWI to detect the motion of water molecules were Stejskal and Tanner. Among DWI researchers, the most famous is Denis Le Bihan from France.
However, there are two Chinese translations for diffusion weighted imaging: 扩散加权成像 and 弥散加权成像.
As of February 9, 2021, a search for the title/keywords “diffusion weighted imaging” in Pubmed yielded 10,792 articles;
Searching for the title/keywords “扩散加权成像” in Wanfang and Weipu yielded 4285 and 4333 journal articles, respectively;
Searching for “弥散加权成像” as keywords in Wanfang and Weipu yielded 3816 and 3312 journal articles, respectively.
This indicates that DWI is indeed a hot research area, and more authors choose to translate diffusion weighted imaging as 扩散加权成像.
From my personal understanding and suggestion, diffusion weighted imaging should be translated into Chinese as “扩散加权成像” for the following two reasons:
① Professor Zhang Xiaopeng from Peking University Cancer Hospital explained in his article “On the Chinese Translation of Diffusion Weighted Imaging” (Chinese Journal of Radiology, 2012, 46(12): 1153-1153) the meanings of “扩散” and “弥散”, believing that “扩散” is more appropriate;
② Additionally, the authoritative journal in the field of radiology, the Chinese Journal of Radiology, also translates diffusion weighted imaging as “扩散加权成像” in its submission guidelines.
③ In the book by Professors Zu Donglin and Gao Jiahong, “Magnetic Resonance Imaging – Principles of Physiological Parameter Measurement and Medical Applications”, it is mentioned on page 2 that the term Diffusion was translated as “扩散” by Chinese scientists over 100 years ago. Diffusion is a physical process, while “弥散” only describes a physical state.
Furthermore, in context, “弥散” seems to imply a scenario similar to a drop of ink slowly dispersing in water, appearing isotropic; while “扩散” does not necessarily imply isotropy.
For example, there are differing opinions on whether DWI should be translated as “扩散加权成像” or “弥散加权成像”. However, for DTI, most people unanimously translate it as diffusion tensor imaging, and rarely see it translated as “弥散张量成像”.
In fact, the translation of “扩散” and “弥散” is still a matter of personal habit. However, from the perspective of the normative and precise use of professional vocabulary, I suggest that everyone translate diffusion weighted imaging as 扩散加权成像 in future work.
In summary, the DWI sequence is currently widely used in clinical and research applications of magnetic resonance imaging, and there are many articles about DWI on the public account.
Related Articles on DWI:
How to Properly Perform Diffusion (DWI) Sequence and DWI Scanning Parameter Techniques
Why Not Only Look at DWI Images to Judge Restricted Diffusion, but Also Consider ADC Images
Overview of Extended Applications of DWI and Various Advanced Diffusion Models
How to Set IVIM Scanning Parameters (Detailed Tutorial)
DWI-TSE Distortion-Free Diffusion Imaging
Post-Processing of DWI Scans and Generation of ADC Images
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Stejskal EO, Tanner JE. Spin diffusion measurement: spin echoes in the presence of a time-dependent field gradient [J]. The Journal of Chemical Physics, 1965; 42: 288-292.
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Zhang Xiaopeng. On the Chinese Translation of Diffusion Weighted Imaging [J]. Chinese Journal of Radiology, 2012, 46(12): 1153-1153.
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Zu Donglin, Gao Jiahong. Magnetic Resonance Imaging – Principles of Physiological Parameter Measurement and Medical Applications [M]. Beijing: Peking University Press, 2014.10.
February 10, 2021 in Shanghai/Chengdu
Ma Chao Li Mao
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