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Quantitative ASL muscle perfusion imaging using a FAIR‐TrueFISP technique at 3.0 T
Author(s) -
Boss Andreas,
Martirosian Petros,
Claussen Claus D.,
Schick Fritz
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
nmr in biomedicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.278
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1099-1492
pISSN - 0952-3480
DOI - 10.1002/nbm.1013
Subject(s) - perfusion , myocardial perfusion imaging , nuclear magnetic resonance , nuclear medicine , biomedical engineering , medicine , physics , cardiology
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 3.0 T whole‐body MR unit in combination with an eight‐channel head coil. Pulsed arterial spin labeling and data recording were performed with an adapted FAIR‐TrueFISP technique and quantitative perfusion maps were calculated on a pixel‐by‐pixel basis by means of the extended Bloch equations. Perfusion images with an 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 in the musculature was found ∼2 min after exercise, reaching values of up to 220 mL/min per 100 g of tissue with good 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 © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.