DYNAMIC SUSCEPTIBILITY CONTRAST MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING IN NEUROPSYCHIATRY - PRESENT UTILITY AND FUTURE PROMISE

Dynamic susceptibility contrast magnetic resonance imaging (DSC MRI) p rovides a noninvasive means to create high resolution maps of the regi onal distribution of cerebral blood volume (CBV). Most DSC MRI studies conducted to date have focused on the evaluation of patients with cer ebral neoplasms, ischemia or infarction, and epilepsy. However, prelim inary work suggests that DSC MRI may also provide clinically important information for the evaluation of patients with neuropsychiatric diso rders, especially dementia and schizophrenia. Additionally, with appro priate modification, DSC MRI may be used to reliably evaluate the effe cts of pharmacological challenges on cerebral hemodynamics. As pharmac otherapy is an important component in the treatment of a range of psyc hiatric disorders, the dynamic assessment of changes in cerebral perfu sion associated with drug administration may ultimately lead to the de velopment of ''brain function tests'' for a wide range of disorders.