Prostate Diffusion Weighted-Magnetic Resonance Image analysis using Multivariate Curve Resolution methods

•This paper justifies the appropriateness of the exponential-based models applied in DW-MRI.•MCR-ALS models are used to extract the behaviors with physiological meaning.•The comparison between the different approximations has been performed.

Multivariate Curve Resolution (MCR) has been applied on prostate Diffusion Weighted-Magnetic Resonance Images (DW-MRI). Different physiological-based modeling approaches of the diffusion process have been submitted to validation by sequentially incorporating prior knowledge on the MCR constraints. Results validate the biexponential diffusion modeling approach and show the capability of the MCR models to find, characterize and locate the behaviors related to the presence of an early prostate tumor.