QUANTIFICATION OF REGIONAL CEREBRAL BLOOD-FLOW AND VOLUME WITH DYNAMIC SUSCEPTIBILITY CONTRAST-ENHANCED MR-IMAGING

PURPOSE: Quantification of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and vol ume (rCBV) with dynamic magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After bolus administration of a paramagnetic contrast medium , rapid T2-weighted gradient-echo images of two sections were acquire d for the simultaneous creation of concentration-time curves in the br ain-feeding arteries and in brain tissue. Absolute rCBF and rCBV value s were determined for gray and white brain matter in 12 subjects with use of principles of the indicator dilution theory. RESULTS: The mean rCBF value in gray matter was 69.7 mL/min +/- 29.7 per 100 g tissue an d in white matter, 33.6 mL/min +/- 11.5 per 100 g tissue; the average rCBV was 8.0 mL +/- 3.1 per 100 g tissue and 4.2 mL +/- 1.0 per 100 g tissue, respectively. An age-related decrease in rCBF and rCBV for gra y and white matter was observed. CONCLUSION: Preliminary data demonstr ate that the proposed technique allows the quantification of rCBF and rCBV. Although the results are in good agreement with data from positr on emission tomography studies, further evaluation is needed to establ ish the validity of method.