Non-Gaussian diffusion restriction effects in intravoxel incoherent motion imaging acquired at b-values below 1000 $$$\tt s/mm^{2}$$$

To know how much the intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) parameters deduced by a bi-exponential model are affected by neglecting non-Gaussian diffusion restriction effects, we performed Monte-Carlo simulations: fitting the bi-exponential model to simulated data containing the diffusion restriction effects. The results showed that non-Gaussian diffusion restriction effects may considerably affect estimation of IVIM parameters even when data acquired with low b-values (b≤1000 s/mm²) are used. This should be taken into account when interpreting the results of IVIM analyses based on the bi-exponential model.