Quantitative ASL muscle perfusion imaging using a FAIR-TrueFISP technique at 3.0T

The feasibility of muscle perfusion imaging with diagnostic image quality was demonstrated using the FAIR-TrueFISP arterial spin labeling technique on a clinical 3.0 T whole-body scanner. In eight healthy Volunteers (24 to 42 years old), quantitative perfusion maps of the forearm musculature were acquired before and after intense exercise. All measurements were carried Out in a 3.0T whole-body MR unit in combination with an eight-channel head coil. Pulsed arterial spin labeling and data recording were performed with all adapted FAIR-TrueFISP technique and quantitative perfusion maps were calculated oil a pixel-by-pixel basis by means of the extended Bloch equations. Perfusion images with all in-plane resolution of 1 mm showed no significant distortions or blurring. Perfusion-time curves could be recorded with a temporal resolution of 6.4 s. Maximum perfusion ill the Musculature was found similar to 2 min after exercise, reaching values Of LIP to 220 mL/min per 100 g of tissue with pod delineation between the active muscles and the musculature not involved in the exercise. In conclusion, the TrueFISP Pulsed arterial spin labeling technique allows patient-friendly assessment of muscular perfusion in a clinical whole-body scanner. Copyright (c) 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.