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Author Spotlight: Noninvasive Cerebral Blood Flow Determination in Human Functional Brain Region for Diagnosis of Neurological Disorders
Published on: May 31, 2024
Addition of arterial spin-labelled MR perfusion to conventional brain MRI: clinical experience in a retrospective
Puneet Belani1, Shingo Kihira1, Felipe Pacheco1
1Department of Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.
Objective:
The usage of arterial spin labelling (ASL) perfusion has exponentially increased due to improved and faster acquisition time and ease of postprocessing. We aimed to report potential additional findings obtained by adding ASL to routine unenhanced brain MRI for patients being scanned in a hospital setting for various neurological indications.
Design:
Retrospective.
Setting:
Large tertiary hospital.
Participants:
676 patients.
Primary Outcome:
Additional findings from ASL sequence compared with conventional MRI.
Results:
Our patient cohorts consisted of 676 patients with 257 with acute infarcts and 419 without an infarct. Additional findings from ASL were observed in 13.9% (94/676) of patients. In the non-infarct group, additional findings from ASL were observed in 7.4% (31/419) of patients, whereas in patients with an acute infarct, supplemental information was obtained in 24.5% (63/257) of patients.
Conclusion:
The addition of an ASL sequence to routine brain MRI in a hospital setting provides additional findings compared with conventional brain MRI in about 7.4% of patients with additional supplementary information in 24.5% of patients with acute infarct.
Insights
Adding arterial spin labelling (ASL) perfusion to routine brain MRI provides additional findings in 13.9% of patients, significantly aiding in the diagnosis of acute infarcts.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Neuroimaging
- Medical Imaging Techniques
Background:
- Arterial spin labelling (ASL) perfusion MRI has gained popularity due to faster acquisition and easier postprocessing.
- Its utility in routine unenhanced brain MRI for diverse neurological indications is increasingly recognized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the added value of ASL perfusion in routine unenhanced brain MRI.
- To identify potential additional findings provided by ASL compared to conventional MRI.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 676 patients undergoing brain MRI in a large tertiary hospital.
- Comparison of additional findings from ASL sequences versus conventional MRI sequences.
Main Results:
- Additional findings were observed in 13.9% of all patients (94/676).
- In patients with acute infarcts, ASL provided supplemental information in 24.5% (63/257).
- In patients without infarcts, ASL yielded additional findings in 7.4% (31/419).
Conclusions:
- ASL perfusion MRI offers valuable additional diagnostic information when added to routine unenhanced brain MRI.
- The incremental yield is particularly notable in patients with acute infarcts.
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