title: Bayesian estimation of cerebral perfusion using reduced-contrast-dose dynamic susceptibility contrast perfusion at 3T.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  DSC perfusion has been increasingly used in conjunction with other contrast-enhanced MR applications and therefore there is need for contrast-dose reduction when feasible. The purpose of this study was to establish the feasibility of reduced-contrast-dose brain DSC perfusion by using a probabilistic Bayesian method and to compare the results with the commonly used singular value decomposition technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  Half-dose (0.05-mmol/kg) and full-dose (0.1-mmol/kg) DSC perfusion studies were prospectively performed in 20 patients (12 men; 34-70 years of age) by using a 3T MR imaging scanner and a gradient-EPI sequence (TR/TE, 1450/22 ms; flip angle, 90°). All DSC scans were processed with block circulant singular value decomposition and Bayesian probabilistic methods. SNR analysis was performed in both half-dose and full-dose groups. The CBF, CBV, and MTT maps from both full-dose and half-dose scans were evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively in both WM and GM on coregistered perfusion maps. Statistical analysis was performed by using a t test, regression, and Bland-Altman analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The SNR was significantly (P < .0001) lower in the half-dose group with 32% and 40% reduction in GM and WM, respectively. In the half-dose group, the image-quality scores were significantly higher in Bayesian-derived CBV (P = .02) and MTT (P = .004) maps in comparison with block circulant singular value decomposition. Quantitative values of CBF, CBV, and MTT in Bayesian-processed data were comparable and without a statistically significant difference between the half-dose and full-dose groups. The block circulant singular value decomposition-derived half-dose perfusion values were significantly different from those of the full-dose group both in GM (CBF, P < .001; CBV, P = .02; MTT, P = .02) and WM (CBF, P < .001; CBV, P = .003; MTT, P = .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reduced-contrast-dose (0.05-mmol/kg) DSC perfusion of the brain is feasible at 3T by using the Bayesian probabilistic method with quantitative results comparable with those of the full-dose protocol.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medical Imaging (K.N., B.M., W.K., E.A.K., J.D.), University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona kambiznael@gmail.com.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nael
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medical Imaging (K.N., B.M., W.K., E.A.K., J.D.), University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mossadeghi
authors.affiliation: Olea Medical SAS (T.B.), La Ciotat, France.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Boutelier
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medical Imaging (K.N., B.M., W.K., E.A.K., J.D.), University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kubal
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medical Imaging (K.N., B.M., W.K., E.A.K., J.D.), University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Krupinski
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medical Imaging (K.N., B.M., W.K., E.A.K., J.D.), University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dagher
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological Sciences (J.P.V.), University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Villablanca
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media