This work evaluates how the suitability of two diffusion MRI models varies spatially within tumours at the voxel level and in response to radiotherapy, potentially allowing inference of qualitatively different tumour microenvironments. Models of restricted and free diffusion were compared, with regions well-described by the former hypothesised to reflect cellular tissue, and those well-described by the latter expected to reflect necrosis or oedema. Results suggest spatial and radiotherapy-related variation in the models’ suitability for describing diffusion in tumours, with a post-therapy decrease in the proportion of tissue characterised by restricted diffusion. Within restricted diffusion regions, microstructural parameters were sensitive to radiotherapy-induced changes.
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