Shortened Mean Transit Time in CT Perfusion With Singular Value Decomposition Analysis in Acute Cerebral Infarction: Quantitative Evaluation and Comparison With Various CT Perfusion Parameters.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to clarify the cause of shortened mean transit time (MTT) in acute ischemic cerebrovascular disease and examined its relationship with reperfusion.

METHODS: Twenty-three patients with acute ischemic cerebrovascular disease underwent whole-brain computed tomography perfusion (CTP). The maximum MTT (MTTmax), minimum MTT (MTTmin), ratio of maximum and minimum MTT (MTTmin/max), and minimum cerebral blood volume (CBV) (CBVmin) were measured by automatic region of interest analysis. Diffusion weighted image was performed to calculate infarction volume. We compared these CTP parameters between reperfusion and nonreperfusion groups and calculated correlation coefficients between the infarction core volume and CTP parameters.

RESULTS: Significant differences were observed between reperfusion and nonreperfusion groups (MTTmin/max: P = 0.014; CBVmin ratio: P = 0.038). Regression analysis of CTP and high-intensity volume on diffusion weighted image showed negative correlation (CBVmin ratio: r = -0.41; MTTmin/max: r = -0.30; MTTmin ratio: r = -0.27).

CONCLUSIONS: A region of shortened MTT indicated obstructed blood flow, which was attributed to the singular value decomposition method error.