title: MR perfusion imaging by alternate slab width inversion recovery arterial spin labeling (AIRASL): a technique with higher signal-to-noise ratio at 3.0 T.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To propose a new arterial spin labeling (ASL) perfusion-imaging method (alternate slab width inversion recovery ASL: AIRASL) that takes advantage of the qualities of 3.0 T.
  
  
  METHODS
  AIRASL utilizes alternate slab width IR pulses for labeling blood to obtain a higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Numerical simulations were used to evaluate perfusion signals. In vivo studies were performed to show the feasibility of AIRASL on five healthy subjects. We performed a statistical analysis of the differences in perfusion SNR measurements between flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery (FAIR) and AIRASL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In signal simulation, the signal obtained by AIRASL at 3.0 and 1.5 T was 1.14 and 0.85%, respectively, whereas the signal obtained by FAIR at 3.0 and 1.5 T was 0.57 and 0.47%, respectively. In an in vivo study, the SNR of FAIR (3.0 T) and FAIR (1.5 T) were 1.73 ± 0.49 and 1.02 ± 0.20, respectively, whereas the SNRs of AIRASL (3.0 T) and AIRASL (1.5 T) were 3.93 ± 1.65 and 1.34 ± 0.31, respectively. SNR in AIRASL at 3.0 T was significantly greater than that in FAIR at 3.0 T.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The most significant potential advantage of AIRASL is its high SNR, which takes advantage of the qualities of 3.0 T. This sequence can be easily applied in the clinical setting and will enable ASL to become more relevant for clinical application.
authors.affiliation: Radiological Center, University of Fukui Hospital, Fukui, Japan. yasuhiro@u-fukui.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.forename: Hirohiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Tosiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyati
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kabasawa
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: Yoshiyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ishimori
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Toshiki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Adachi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000502:physiology*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D055420:Perfusion Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D012016:Reference Values; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D059629:Signal-To-Noise Ratio; D013113:Spin Labels
chemical_list: D013113:Spin Labels