Brain perfusion measured by flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery (FAIR) and dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging: comparison with nuclear medicine technique

The aim of this study was to compare cerebral perfusion images and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) of SPECT study with the images and regional int ensity of relative cerebral blood flow (CBF) images acquired by contrast-en hanced perfusion MR imaging (pMRI) and flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery (FAIR). Twelve patients with various cerebral diseases were under went I-123-IMP SPECT, pMRI, and FAIR studies to measure rCBF. A total of 12 regions of interest (ROI) were created over cerebrum and cerebellum to acq uire the corresponding rCBF from I-123-IMP study and regional average signa l intensity from CBF images of pMRI and FAIR studies. Left-to-right (L/R) a nd cerebral-to-cerebellar (CCR) ratios were created from the rCBF of I-123- IMP and signal intensity of CBF images of pMRI and FAIR. Image quality of F AIR was the poorest among all; however, CBF images of pMRI and FAIR images show comparatively decreased intensity at the corresponding site of decreas ed perfusion on I-123-IMP images. Both FAIR and pMRI images showed high int ensity along the sinuses, choroid plexus, and large vessels in sulci. No si gnificant correlation was found among all imaging modalities. But L/R ratio of I-123-IMP showed significant correlation with those of pMRI and FAIR, b ut for CCR, significant correlation was observed only between I-123-IMP and FAIR. Perfusion images of both pMRI and FAIR may produce images comparable to SPECT study. But to calculate absolute CBF more easy-to-apply and accur ate algorithms are needed to overcome the artifacts from large vessels.