A method for selecting the b-values for diffusion weighted magnetic
resonance scans. The method includes: identifying a single reference
slice within a volume of interest (VOI); progressively changing b-values
over a plurality of scans of the reference slice wherein each one of the
scans has a different b-value to obtain a plurality of diffusion weighted
images; calculating ADC maps for combinations of b-values from the
obtained plurality of diffusion weighted images; evaluating the
calculated ADC maps; selecting from the evaluation optimal b-values; and
using the selected b-values for subsequent scans.