Newer Techniques of Cerebral Blood Flow Measurement

A variety of methods for measuring cerebral blood flow have been developed in the past 25 years since Kety and Schmidt developed their method based on the Fick principle. None of the currently used methods approaches the clinical ideal, since none of the techniques are accurate, reproducible and noninvasive. Most accurate techniques involve catheterization of internal carotid artery and/or jugular vein with those attendant risks. There has been considerable enhancement of our understanding of the pathophysiology of cerebral circulation, particularly in the areas of brain injury and disordered systemic metabolism, but the clinical usefulness of the test at the present time is limited.