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Perfusion ImagingPerfusion Imaging
S. Lalith Talagala, Ph.D.S. Lalith Talagala, Ph.D.
NIH MRI Research FacilityNIH MRI Research FacilityNational Institute for Neurological Disorders and StrokeNational Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MDNational Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
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Perfusion Imaging: OutlinePerfusion Imaging: Outline• IntroductionIntroduction• Dynamic Susceptibility Contrast (DSC)Dynamic Susceptibility Contrast (DSC)
MethodMethod
QuantificationQuantification
ExamplesExamples• Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL)Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL)
MethodMethod
Labeling Techniques Labeling Techniques
QuantificationQuantification
ExamplesExamples
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DefinitionsDefinitionsPerfusionPerfusion – capillary blood flow delivered to the tissue – capillary blood flow delivered to the tissue
MRI methods can assess MRI methods can assess blood flow – ml blood / min / 100 g of tissue - blood flow – ml blood / min / 100 g of tissue - blood volume – ml blood /100 g of tissueblood volume – ml blood /100 g of tissue mean transit time – secondsmean transit time – seconds
Normal values for brainNormal values for brain
Gray MatterGray Matter White MatterWhite Matter
CBF CBF (ml /min/100 g)(ml /min/100 g) 60 - 8060 - 80 20 - 3020 - 30
CBV CBV (ml / 100 g)(ml / 100 g) 4 - 64 - 6 2 - 42 - 4
MTT MTT (s)(s) 4 - 54 - 5 5 - 65 - 6
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Perfusion MRIPerfusion MRI Dynamic Susceptibility Contrast
(DSC)
Requires contrast injection
Large signal changes, Fast
Single application (clinical)
Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL)
No contrast required
Small signal change, Slow
Multiple measurements (clinical and research)
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Dynamic Susceptibility Contrast Dynamic Susceptibility Contrast (DSC)(DSC)
Monitor passage of Gadolinium contrast through tissue using rapid T2*/T2 weighted MRI
Gradient Echo EPITR ~1.5- 2 s TE = 30 -50 ms ~1.5 min
Imaging
Gd 0.1 - 0.2 mmol/kg
Bolus Injection
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DSC - MechanismDSC - Mechanism
W/OGd
W/Gd
Tissue/ Blood Field Inhomogeneity
R2* (=1/T2*)
GE/SE MRI Signal
Gd Chelates: Paramagnetic, Intravascular
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DSC – Passage of Gd through tissueDSC – Passage of Gd through tissue
1.5 T, 0.1 mmol/kg, GE- EPI, TE = 50 ms, TR = 2 s
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Baseline First pass Recirculation-20
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
0 20 40 60 80
Time (s)
Sign
al A
mpl
itude
DSC – Signal vs TimeDSC – Signal vs Time
GM pixel
Blood pixel
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DSC: Signal loss to Concentration DSC: Signal loss to Concentration
CkR *2
*20 exp RTESSc
0
ln1
S
S
TEkC c
k – proportionality constant
C – Gd concentration
Sc – Signal with Gd
S0 – Baseline signal without Gd
}
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-10
0
10
20
30
40
50
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Time (s)
Gd
Con
cent
ratio
n (a
rb.
units
)0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Time (s)
Sign
al A
mpl
itude
DSC: Concentration vs timeDSC: Concentration vs time
0
ln1
S
S
TEkC c
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DSC – CBV, CBF, MTT ?DSC – CBV, CBF, MTT ?
-10
0
10
20
30
40
50
0 40 80
Time (s)
Co
nce
ntr
atio
n
Arterial input
function (AIF)
Tissue Response
F (ml/min)
CBF
CBVMTT
-10
0
10
20
30
40
50
0 40 80
Time (s)
Con
cent
ratio
n
Cart (t)Ctis (t) Tracer
Kinetic Theory
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DSC- Input/Residue/Output CurvesDSC- Input/Residue/Output Curves
R(t)
Cart(t)R”(t)
h(t)
h”(t)
FCart(t)
FCart(t)
INPUT RESIDUE OUTPUT
Impulse
Typical
Cart (t) Cvein (t)Ctis (t)F
Residue function1
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Tracer Kinetics – Basic EquationsTracer Kinetics – Basic EquationsR(t) h(t)
Residue function1 Frequency function
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DSC- Calculation of CBVDSC- Calculation of CBV
Ctis (t)Cart (t)
dttC
dttCkCBV
art
tisH
)(
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DSC- Calculation of CBF and MTTDSC- Calculation of CBF and MTT
) t , ( )( arttisscl CtCDeconvoltR
CBF
Rscl(t)
Cart (t) Cvein (t)Ctis (t)F
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DSC – CBV, CBF, MTT mapsDSC – CBV, CBF, MTT maps
CBV CBF MTT
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DSC – CBV, CBF, MTT mapsDSC – CBV, CBF, MTT maps
CBV
CBF
MTT
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DSC – CBF mapsDSC – CBF maps
1.5 T, 0.1 mmol/kg, GE- EPI, TE = 50 ms, TR = 2 s
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DSC: Quantification IssuesDSC: Quantification Issues
Accuracy of R2* C relationship
Arteries (quadratic) and tissue (linear)
Arterial input function (AIF) determination Partial volume , vessel orientation effects Truncation of the peak Dispersion between measurement site and tissue (local AIF)
Deconvolution errors Sensitivity to noise Sensitivity to bolus arrival times
Absolute CBF/CBV require use of scaling factors determined separately
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Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL)Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL)Measure the change in MRI signal due to magnetic labeling (tagging) of inflowing blood
=>
GE/SE EPITR ~ 2 - 5 sTE = minimum~ 4-5 minutes
Tag
Control Label
PerfusionMaps
IMAGINGLABELING
0.5 – 2.5 s 0.5 - 2 s 0.75 s
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ASL: Control/Label/DifferenceASL: Control/Label/Difference
Control
Label
1 pair(10 sec)
24 pairs(4 min)
Difference (M) images
M: GM – 0.9 %, WM – 0.15 %
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ASL – One Compartment Kinetic ModelASL – One Compartment Kinetic Model
R(t)
R”(t)
h(t)
h”(t)
FCart(t)
FCart(t)
Impulse
ContASL
Cart (t) Cvein (t)Ctis (t)F
PulsedASL
f
T
1
1
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ASL- Quantification of CBFASL- Quantification of CBF
eqm
a
aaCASL
S
S
R
RwRCBF
1
1
0
1
exp1
exp
2
eqm
a
aPASL
S
SR
RwCBF
1
1
0 exp
exp
2
One compartment model: Labeled blood stays in the vasculature
CASL
PASL
R1a – relaxation rate of arterial blood 0 – labeling efficiency – labeling time w –post labeling delay – brain/blood partition coefficient of water
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ASL: Labeling Strategies ASL: Labeling Strategies
Continuous ASL (CASL)
Narrow labeling plane
Long duration (seconds)
Input function – constant
Pulsed ASL (PASL)
Wide labeling slab
Created by a short pulse (milliseconds)
Input function – decaying exponential
(T1 of blood)
LabelingSlab
LabelingPlane
CASL
PASL
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ASL: Pulsed Labeling (QUIPSS II)ASL: Pulsed Labeling (QUIPSS II)
RF/Signal
Gradient
ProximalInversion Proximal
Saturation Image
Gi
Gi0Label
LabelVoxelView
…
…
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ASL: Pulsed Labeling (QUIPSS II)ASL: Pulsed Labeling (QUIPSS II)
Control
Gi 0Control
VoxelView
Gi0Label
Label
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ASL: Pulsed Labeling (Q2TIPS)ASL: Pulsed Labeling (Q2TIPS)
Disadvantage: Limited coverage
Advantages:High tagging efficiencyLow SAREase of implementation
Control
Difference
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ASL: Continuous LabelingASL: Continuous Labeling (Flow-driven Adiabatic Fast Passage)(Flow-driven Adiabatic Fast Passage)
RF/Signal
Gradient
Label
Control
Image
Gl
Gl0Label
RF0Control
VoxelView
…
…
LabelControl
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8 Ch Rx
Neck Labeling Coil
Labeling Plane
Continuous ASL: Neck Labeling Continuous ASL: Neck Labeling CoilCoil
Advantages:• Whole brain coverage• High labeling efficiency• Lower SAR
Disadvantage:• Requires special hardware
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CASL with a Neck Labeling Coil: CASL with a Neck Labeling Coil: Multi-shot 3D-FSE SpiralMulti-shot 3D-FSE Spiral
% S R1 map CBF
3T, Head Coil, 3D-FSE, 3.7 x 3.7 x 5 mm3
8 shots, TR 5.9 s, Label dur 4.1 s, PL delay 1.64 s, Backgr supp 6 min 22 sec
Talagala et al, MRM 52: 131-140 (2004)
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Continuous ASL: Neck Labeling CoilContinuous ASL: Neck Labeling Coil
3T, 8 Ch Rx, 2D EPI, 3 x 3 x 3 mm3, TE/TR 13 ms/5 s, 4.5 minutes
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3T, 8 Ch Rx, 2D EPI, 1.5 x 1.5 x 3 mm3
TE/TR 16 ms/5 s, LD/PLD 3 s/1.6 s 10 minutes
CASL with a Neck Labeling Coil: CASL with a Neck Labeling Coil: HemangioblastomasHemangioblastomas
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VolumeVolumeTx CoilTx Coil
SurfaceSurfaceLabelingLabelingCoilCoil
Head Rx Head Rx Array Array CoilCoil
CASL Perfusion MRI at 7 TCASL Perfusion MRI at 7 T
Tx Volume / 8 Ch Rx Array
Neck Labeling Coil
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7T CASL with a Neck Labeling Coil7T CASL with a Neck Labeling Coil
7T, 8 Ch Rx, 2D EPI, 2 x 2 x 3 mm3
TE/TR 13 ms/5 s, ASSET X2, LD = 3 s, PLD 1.5 s8 minutes
Control (RF off) - Label (RF +ve offset)
Control (RF off) - Label (RF –ve offset)
Talagala et al ISMRM 2008
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CASL Perfusion MRI at 7 TCASL Perfusion MRI at 7 T
7T, 8Ch Rx, 2.1 x 2.1 x 3 mm3, 9 minutes, n=5
ml/(100g. min)
ms
%DS
T1
CBF
Gray MatterGray Matter White MatterWhite Matter
Mean T1 Mean T1 (ms)(ms) 19401940 13631363
S/S S/S (%) (%) 1.43 1.43 0.25 0.25 0.3 +/- 0.040.3 +/- 0.04
CBF CBF (ml/min.100g)(ml/min.100g)
76 +/- 1176 +/- 11 27 +/- 2.427 +/- 2.4
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ASL: Pseudo Continuous labelingASL: Pseudo Continuous labeling
…Image
…RF/Signal
… …Gradient
n
= Gz t z
Label
Control
Advantages:• Whole brain coverage• High labeling efficiency• Use standard hardware
Disadvantages:• Higher SAR• Labeling sensitive to off-resonance effects
2cm
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3T3.6 x 3.6 x 5 mm3
Gradient-echo EPI TE/TR = 20.8/500 mst/w = 2500/1700 ms
Scan time 5:00
Pseudo Continuous ASL: 3T dataPseudo Continuous ASL: 3T data
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7T2.3 x 2.3 x 3 mm3
Gradient-echo EPI TE/TR = 20.8/5100 ms
t/w = 3000/1200 msSENSE 3x
Scan time 4:15
Pseudo Continuous ASL: 7T dataPseudo Continuous ASL: 7T data
Luh et al, MRM 69:402 (2013)
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CASL fMRI with a Neck Labeling CoilCASL fMRI with a Neck Labeling Coil
3T, Head CoilFinger movement (0.5 Hz),{48 s Task / 48 Rest} X 6, 10 minGE EPI, 3.75 x 3.75 x 5 mm3
12 s per Cont/Label pair SPM, Spatial normalization smoothing (8 mm), N= 15
Garraux et al, NeuroImage 25:122-132 (2005)
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3T CASL Perfusion fMRI with 16 Rx3T CASL Perfusion fMRI with 16 Rx
Finger movement (2 Hz), {40 s Rest / 40 Task} X 8, N = 6GE EPI, TE 26 ms, 10 s per Control/Label pair, 10 min 40 sec
3 x 3 x 3 mm3CBF
75 ± 11 ml/(min.100g)
CBF 78 ± 7%
1.5 x 1.5 x 3 mm3
CBF 92 ± 16
ml/(min.100g)
CBF 102 ± 10%
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Functional Connectivity with ASL Perfusion Functional Connectivity with ASL Perfusion
Chuang et al., NeuroImage 40, 1595 (2008)
3T, GE EPI, 16 Ch Rx, 3.75 X 3.75 X 3 mm3
TE/TR 12.5/3200 ms, 10 min 40 sec
CBF = 29 ± 19% BOLD = 0.26 ± 0.14% (N=13)
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Functional Connectivity: Functional Connectivity: BOLD, Perfusion, CMRO2 BOLD, Perfusion, CMRO2
Wu et al., NeuroImage 45, 694 (2009)
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Perfusion MRI: SummaryPerfusion MRI: Summary
Dynamic Susceptibility Contrast (DSC)Dynamic Susceptibility Contrast (DSC)
Requires contrast administrationRequires contrast administration
Fast acquisition (< 2 min), whole brain coverageFast acquisition (< 2 min), whole brain coverage
Readily performed in clinical scannersReadily performed in clinical scanners
Online/Offline processing software availableOnline/Offline processing software available
Absolute quantification is difficultAbsolute quantification is difficult
Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL)Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL)
No contrast requiredNo contrast required
4-5 min acquisition, whole brain coverage 4-5 min acquisition, whole brain coverage
Absolute quantification is possibleAbsolute quantification is possible
Robust sequences becoming available Robust sequences becoming available
Useful for clinical and research work Useful for clinical and research work