title: Model-free arterial spin labeling quantification approach for perfusion MRI.
abstract: In this work a model-free arterial spin labeling (ASL) quantification approach for measuring cerebral blood flow (CBF) and arterial blood volume (aBV) is proposed. The method is based on the acquisition of a train of multiple images following the labeling scheme. Perfusion is obtained using deconvolution in a manner similar to that of dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) MRI. Local arterial input functions (AIFs) can be estimated by subtracting two perfusion-weighted images acquired with and without crusher gradients, respectively. Furthermore, by knowing the duration of the bolus of tagged arterial blood, one can estimate the aBV on a voxel-by-voxel basis. The maximum of the residue function obtained from the deconvolution of the tissue curve by the AIF is a measure of CBF after scaling by the locally estimated aBV. This method provides averaged gray matter (GM) perfusion values of 38 +/- 2 ml/min/100 g and aBV of 0.93% +/- 0.06%. The average CBF value is 10% smaller than that obtained on the same data set using the standard general kinetic model (42 +/- 2 ml/min/100 g). Monte Carlo simulations were performed to compare this new methodology with parametric fitting by the conventional model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore.
authors.forename: Esben Thade
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: Tchoyoson
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Golay
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001810:Blood Volume; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D013113:Spin Labels
chemical_list: D013113:Spin Labels