Comparison of post mortem in situ and in vivo intravoxel incoherent motion of the human brain

Performing intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) magnetic resonance imaging offers the possibility to differentiate various diffusion processes according to their varying molecule speeds. In this study, the IVIM parameters perfusion fraction, diffusion and pseudo-diffusion were determined in the human brain for 12 post mortem in situ and 2 in vivo cases. Our results show that the IVIM parameters decrease after death and that they are higher in gray matter than in white matter. Besides, the age at death, the core temperature of the subjects and the post mortem interval have an effect on the post mortem IVIM parameters.