[Arterial spin labeling: state of the art].
Arterial spin labeling (ASL) perfusion MR imaging is a technique by which water from circulating arterial blood is magnetically labeled and acts as a diffusible tracer allowing non-invasive measurement of cerebral blood flow. In this paper, the technique and current applications in neuroimaging will be reviewed.


RESULTS
First, the technical principles of ASL will be reviewed and both available techniques (continuous and pulsed ASL) explained. A review of the literature will demonstrate advances with the techniques of ASL and its clinical impact. Clinical research involves normal volunteers and patients with ischemic and tumoral pathologies.


CONCLUSIONS
Recent technical advances have improved the sensitivity of ASL perfusion MR imaging. The routine clinical use of ASL at 3.0 Tesla should increase over the next few years.
Monet
P
P
Service de Neuroradiologie, CHU Amiens, 1, place Victor Pauchet, 80054 Amiens cedex 1.
Franc
J
J
Brasseur
A
A
Desblache
J
J
Saliou
G
G
Deramond
H
H
Lehmann
P
P
D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography