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Perfusion imaging of the pancreas using an arterial spin labeling technique
Author(s) -
Schraml Christina,
Schwenzer Nina F.,
Martirosian Petros,
Claussen Claus D.,
Schick Fritz
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.21564
Subject(s) - perfusion , pancreas , medicine , perfusion scanning , radiology , nuclear medicine , endocrine system , blood flow , hormone
Purpose To investigate the feasibility of perfusion imaging of the pancreas using an arterial spin labeling (ASL) technique. Materials and Methods An adapted flow‐sensitive alternating inversion recovery (FAIR)‐TrueFISP ASL technique was implemented on a 1.5T scanner. Anatomical and perfusion imaging in three different parts of the pancreas were performed in 10 healthy volunteers. Quantitative perfusion values were calculated using the extended Bloch equations. Results Perfusion images of all subjects showed diagnostic image quality in the pancreatic tail and the head. Assessment of pancreatic tissue perfusion was possible in all organ parts. Mean perfusion values were 271 ± 79 mL/100g/min in the head, 351 ± 112 mL/100g/min in the body, and 243 ± 55 mL/100g/min in the tail of the pancreas. Total examination time for perfusion imaging of the entire organ was 15.4 minutes. Conclusion FAIR‐TrueFISP permits analysis of pancreatic tissue perfusion with good image quality in a clinically applicable measuring time. Assessment of perfusion disorders may be useful in the diagnosis of inflammatory pancreatic pathologies, endocrine and exocrine pancreatic disorders, and in monitoring of pancreatic transplants. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2008;28:1459–1465. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.