Pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling perfusion magnetic resonance imaging-A normative study of reproducibility in the human brain
Journal
NeuroImage
Journal Volume
56
Journal Issue
3
Pages
1244-1250
Date Issued
2011
Author(s)
Abstract
Pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling (PCASL), a newly proposed perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique, has the potential of providing a better balance between labeling efficiency and signal-to-noise ratio than conventional ASL methods. The advantage will not be exploitable until adequate reproducibility can be achieved. In this study, we investigated the reproducibility of PCASL on twelve healthy volunteers by taking into account the inclusion of correction for coil sensitivity (CS) and labeling efficiency (α). Each subject underwent two identical sessions scheduled two weeks apart. For comparison, pulsed ASL (PASL) imaging was also conducted using the flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery method. MR imaging was performed on a 3T whole body system using a 12-channel phased array for reception. Blood flow was quantified for gray matter and assessed globally as well as in the flow territories of the internal carotid arteries and posterior cerebral arteries. Experimental results showed that CS accounted for 35% and 60% of inter-session variability in PCASL and PASL, respectively. With CS correction alone, coefficient of variance (CV) remained larger with PCASL than PASL (p= 0.02). CV was 12% with CS-corrected PASL and 11% with PCASL when CS and α were corrected for in conjunction. We concluded that CS correction is necessary for ASL imaging when using phased array receiver and that after CS correction, PCASL requires α correction to provide reproducibility comparable to PASL. ? 2011 Elsevier Inc.
Subjects
Cerebral blood flow; Magnetic resonance imaging; Pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling
SDGs
Other Subjects
adult; article; brain blood flow; controlled study; female; gray matter; human; human experiment; image analysis; intermethod comparison; internal carotid artery; male; neuroimaging; normal human; perfusion weighted imaging; posterior cerebral artery; priority journal; pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling; pulsed arterial spin labeling; reproducibility; sensitivity analysis; spin labeling; three dimensional imaging; Adult; Brain; Carotid Artery, Internal; Cerebral Arteries; Cerebrovascular Circulation; Computer Simulation; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Female; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Magnetic Resonance Angiography; Male; Posterior Cerebral Artery; Reproducibility of Results; Spin Labels; Young Adult
Type
journal article