Correlation of regional cerebral blood flow values obtained by perfusion-MRI and stable xenon computed tomography

This study investigated the validity of perfusion-MRI for evaluating rCBF in comparison with stable xenon computed tomography. Xenon-CT CBF measurements were done with a wash-in method by 4 min inhalation of 30% xenon/oxygen mixture. Two brain levels including the basal ganglia were measured. For each level two baseline scans and six enhanced scans were obtained. During a bolus injection of 0.1 mmol/kg Gadolinium-DTPA a series of transversal T2*-weighted FLASH-images was recorded Based on the indicator dilution theory rCBF was calculated and displayed in a parameter map. 8-10 regions of interest were located in the white and grey matter on the CBF images for each of ten patients. There was a good correlation of rCBF between perfusion-MRI and stable xenon-CT (r=0.85). The spatial resolution is comparable to stable xenon-CT Due to the vascular distribution, rCBF values measured near the subarachnoid spaces are higher than in stable Xenon-CT Intra- and interindividual comparisons require absolute values of perfusion which can be obtained by perfusion-MRI. The mapping allows a good anatomical localization comparable to xenon-CT: This technique may be used for measurements of human brain perfusion.