Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging: A molecular imaging tool caught between hope, hype and the real world of “personalized oncology”

“Personalized oncology” is a multi-disciplinary science, which requires inputs from various streams for optimal patient management. Humongous progress in the treatment modalities available and the increasing need to provide functional information in addition to the morphological data; has led to leaping progress in the field of imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging has undergone tremendous progress with various newer MR techniques providing vital functional information and is becoming the cornerstone of “radiomics/radiogenomics”. Diffusion-weighted imaging is one such technique which capitalizes on the tendency of water protons to diffuse randomly in a given system. This technique has revolutionized oncological imaging, by giving vital qualitative and quantitative information regarding tumor biology which helps in detection, characterization and post treatment surveillance of the lesions and challenging the notion that “one size fits all”. It has been applied at various sites with different clinical experience. We hereby present a brief review of this novel functional imaging tool, with its application in “personalized oncology”.