Arterial input function in a dedicated slice for cerebral perfusion measurements in humans.

OBJECT: We aimed to modify our previously published method for arterial input function measurements for evaluation of cerebral perfusion (dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI) such that it can be applied in humans in a clinical setting.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Similarly to our previous work, a conventional measurement sequence for dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI is extended with an additional measurement slice at the neck. Measurement parameters at this slice were optimized for the blood signal (short echo time, background suppression, magnitude and phase images). Phase-based evaluation of the signal in the carotid arteries is used to obtain quantitative arterial input functions.

RESULTS: In all pilot measurements, quantitative arterial input functions were obtained. The resulting absolute perfusion parameters agree well with literature values (gray and white matter mean values of 46 and 24 mL/100 g/min, respectively, for cerebral blood flow and 3.0% and 1.6%, respectively, for cerebral blood volume).

CONCLUSIONS: The proposed method has the potential to quantify arterial input functions in the carotid arteries from a direct measurement without any additional normalization.