Final answer:
Increasing the b-value in Diffusion-Weighted Imaging (DWI) can impact the detection of stroke or neoplasm in medical imaging. Higher b-values enhance the visibility of acute ischemic injury for stroke detection, while lower b-values are preferred for neoplasm detection.
Step-by-step explanation:
Increasing the b-value in Diffusion-Weighted Imaging (DWI) can impact the detection of stroke or neoplasm in medical imaging.
The b-value determines the amount of diffusion weighting in the DWI scan.
A higher b-value increases the sensitivity of the scan to motion and microstructural changes.
For stroke detection, increasing the b-value can improve the visibility of acute ischemic injury, as it enhances the detection of restricted water diffusion.
This is because the DWI signal is predominantly influenced by water diffusion properties at higher b-values.
However, for neoplasm detection, lower b-values are generally preferred.
This is because tumors typically have higher cellularity and restricted diffusion, which is better visualized at lower b-values.
Higher b-values may lead to decreased sensitivity in detecting tumors.