HEMODYNAMIC PARAMETER ASSESSMENT WITH DYNAMIC SUSCEPTIBILITY CONTRASTMAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING IN UNILATERAL SYMPTOMATIC INTERNAL CAROTID-ARTERY OCCLUSION

Background and Purpose Hemodynamic parameters such as regional cerebra l blood volume (rCBV), mean transit time (MTT), and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) can be assessed by dynamic susceptibility contrast M RI. The aim of the present study was to apply this method in patients who had symptomatic unilateral internal carotid artery occlusion. Meth ods Relative hemodynamic parameters (rCBV, MTT, and rCBF) were evaluat ed on the occluded side and thus compared with contralateral hemispher ic values. We also attempted to detect any relationship between collat eral flow and the hemodynamic parameters. Results Although rCBV was cl early increased in five patients over the whole hemisphere, we did not observe a statistically significant difference regarding the whole sa mple between sides (mean rCBV, 14.1+/-4.58 on the occluded side versus 11.8+/-2.99 on the contralateral side; P>.10). MTT was clearly increa sed on the occluded side (mean MTT, 4.29+/-0.83 on the lesion side ver sus 3.14+/-0.81 on the contralateral side; P<.010). A statistically si gnificant decrease of rCBF on the occluded side was observed (mean rCB F, 3.27+/-0.73 versus 3.93+/-1.03 on the contralateral side; P<.01). C onclusions A significant hemodynamic compromise in patients who had un ilateral symptomatic carotid occlusion was observed according to CBF a nd MTT values. This approach might be promising in the understanding o f cerebral hemodynamics in patients with vascular disorders.