title: Parallel perfusion imaging processing using GPGPU.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of brain perfusion quantification is to generate parametric maps of relevant hemodynamic quantities such as cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV) and mean transit time (MTT) that can be used in diagnosis of acute stroke. These calculations involve deconvolution operations that can be very computationally expensive when using local Arterial Input Functions (AIF). As time is vitally important in the case of acute stroke, reducing the analysis time will reduce the number of brain cells damaged and increase the potential for recovery.
  
  
  METHODS
  GPUs originated as graphics generation dedicated co-processors, but modern GPUs have evolved to become a more general processor capable of executing scientific computations. It provides a highly parallel computing environment due to its large number of computing cores and constitutes an affordable high performance computing method. In this paper, we will present the implementation of a deconvolution algorithm for brain perfusion quantification on GPGPU (General Purpose Graphics Processor Units) using the CUDA programming model. We present the serial and parallel implementations of such algorithms and the evaluation of the performance gains using GPUs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our method has gained a 5.56 and 3.75 speedup for CT and MR images respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It seems that using GPGPU is a desirable approach in perfusion imaging analysis, which does not harm the quality of cerebral hemodynamic maps but delivers results faster than the traditional computation.
authors: Data-Intensive Research Group, School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. F.Zhu@ed.ac.uk
authors: Fan
authors: F
authors: Zhu
authors: David Rodriguez
authors: DR
authors: Gonzalez
authors: Trevor
authors: T
authors: Carpenter
authors: Malcolm
authors: M
authors: Atkinson
authors: Joanna
authors: J
authors: Wardlaw
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D003196:Computer Graphics; D006801:Humans