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Construction and Application of Cerebral Functional Region-Based Cerebral Blood Flow Atlas Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Arterial Spin Labeling
Published on: May 31, 2024
Quantification of arterial cerebral blood volume using multiphase-balanced SSFP-based ASL
Lirong Yan1, Cheng Li, Emily Kilroy
1Department of Neurology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
|December 1, 2011
Summary
This study introduces a novel arterial spin labeling technique combined with multiphase balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) for in vivo cerebral blood volume measurement. The method quantifies arterial blood volume, offering potential for advanced functional MRI and clinical vascular evaluation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Biomedical Engineering
- Radiology
Background:
- Accurate measurement of arterial cerebral blood volume (aCBV) is crucial for understanding brain function and disease.
- Existing methods like dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI involve exogenous contrast agents, posing potential risks.
- Arterial spin labeling (ASL) offers a non-invasive alternative but faces challenges in precisely quantifying aCBV.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel in vivo technique for quantifying arterial cerebral blood volume.
- To combine arterial spin labeling (ASL) with a segmented multiphase balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) sequence for enhanced accuracy.
- To explore the potential of this technique for differentiating vascular compartments and its application in functional MRI.
Main Methods:
- A new ASL technique was developed, leveraging the unique properties of blood magnetization within a multiphase bSSFP sequence.
- Bloch equation simulations and in vivo experiments were conducted to assess the method's feasibility.
- The technique was applied to quantify cerebral blood volume in arteries, arterioles, and capillaries, and validated during functional MRI of visual cortex stimulation.
Main Results:
- The proposed multiphase bSSFP-based ASL technique successfully demonstrated in vivo quantification of arterial cerebral blood volume.
- Simulations and experiments confirmed the method's ability to measure blood volume across different arterial and capillary compartments.
- Functional MRI results showed comparable performance to vascular-space occupancy contrast, highlighting the technique's potential.
Conclusions:
- The developed multiphase bSSFP-based ASL technique provides a non-invasive method for quantifying arterial cerebral blood volume.
- This technique may enable the separation of cerebral blood volume in distinct vascular compartments, advancing functional MRI studies.
- The method holds promise for clinical evaluation of cerebral vasculature and understanding neurovascular coupling.
