Determining diffusivity of multiple diffusion components within a tissue using diffusion magnetic resonance data representing a volume of the tissue. A plurality of candidate fibers having a direction is defined within the volume. A possibility coefficient is calculated by a processor for each candidate fiber of the plurality of candidate fibers based on the magnetic resonance data and the direction of the candidate fiber. The possibility coefficient represents a likelihood that the candidate fiber exists in the volume. Candidate fibers associated with a possibility coefficient greater than a threshold value are selected by the processor to create one or more probable fibers. For each probable fiber of the one or more probable fibers, an axial diffusivity indicating a diffusion of water in the direction of the probable fiber and a radial diffusivity indicating a diffusion of water perpendicular to the direction of the probable fiber are calculated by the processor. The diffusivity of isotropic diffusion component and the volume ratios of each fiber component and isotropic components are calculated.
Diagnosis of central nervous system white matter pathology using diffusion MRI