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Mapping of vertebral artery perfusion territories using arterial spin labeling MRI
Author(s) -
Kansagra Akash P.,
Wong Eric C.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of magnetic resonance imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.563
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1522-2586
pISSN - 1053-1807
DOI - 10.1002/jmri.21462
Subject(s) - arterial spin labeling , perfusion , vertebral artery , medicine , artery , radiology , cardiology
Purpose To demonstrate the use of a noninvasive arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI technique and evaluate vertebral artery (VA) territories in the brain. Materials and Methods Vessel‐encoded ASL was used to determine the territories of the left and right VAs in five healthy subjects. Territory maps were analyzed quantitatively by comparing the fractional contributions of the left and right VAs in selected regions of interest within the brain. Results VA territory maps demonstrated a complicated pattern of perfusion to the posterior aspect of the brain, but were consistent with the posterior cerebral and cerebellar artery distributions. Cerebellar perfusion was predominantly ipsilateral ( P < 0.01). The total left and right VA contributions were unequal ( P < 0.01), and there was relatively little mixing in the vertebrobasilar system. Conclusion Vessel‐encoded ASL can reveal individual VA territories in the brain. In a small sample of healthy volunteers the VAs appeared to contribute unequally, provide predominantly ipsilateral supply to the cerebellum, and undergo minimal mixing in the basilar artery. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2008;28:762–766. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.