Multislice mapping and quantification of brain perfusion MR imaging data: a comparative study of homemade and...

We developed a homemade computer program for analysis of perfusion weighted MR imaging (PW-MRI) data in order to produce colored multislice rCBV, rCBF, and MTT maps. We then compared those maps with others produced by a commercially available program, obtained from the same PW-MRI data, to determine the feasibility of using our program in clinical practice.

Studies of 20 patients were performed on a high field MR scanner. Imaging protocol consisted of perfusion study (EPI, TR/TE: 1430/46 msec, 10 mm gap, matrix: 128x128, FOV: 240 cm, NEX: 1). Twenty ml of Gd-DTPA was administered at a rate of 4-5 ml/sec beginning at the 5th acquisition of 50 dynamic series. MATLAB software was used for writing codes of both mathematical equations and the graphical user interface. All images were in DICOM standard. For validation of the results, all maps were compared with another commercially available program, which is widely being used in daily practice, and was installed on the MR scanner. Ability to define the lesion contours and extension, and artifacts at the bone-soft tissue interface were the criteria used for statistical evaluation.

Field definition was equally good in 38% of the patient scans for both software programs; our homemade software was better in 23% of the cases and the commercial software was better in 31%. In 6% of the results, either software program was not sufficient. For the elimination of artifacts, our homemade software was 100% successful in every case.

Our homemade program is a user friendly one that gives comparable results with those of a commonly used commercial one. However, this program should be tested with different categories of diseases and a larger patient population and then compared with different commercial software programs to be validated more clearly.