Cerebral Diffusion Restriction Beyond Neoplasia: Radiologic Patterns, Pitfalls, and Pearls.

Objective: To highlight various non-proliferative causes and associated diffusion restriction patterns. Methodology: A collection of cases has been assembled depicting diffusion restriction on MR Brain imaging stemming from non-neoplastic intracranial pathologies. Results: Various causes were encountered including vascular (infarcts), infectious (abcess, empyema, viral infections), traumatic(hematoma), metabolic (inborn error of metabolism), toxic (carbon-monoxide toxicity) and demyelinating (tumefactive demyelinating disease). Conclusion: This detailed pictorial helps the radiologist in narrowing the differentials improving diagnostic precision.