Bing Wu1, Jianxun Qu1, Ziyang Meng2, and Zhenyu Zhou1
1GE healthcare MR Research China, Beijing, China, People's Republic of, 2Department of Precision Instrument, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, People's Republic of
Synopsis
CBF quantification in territorial arterial
spin labeling (tASL) is difficult in practice due to unknown labeling efficiency as compared to non-selective ASL perfusion. It is also difficult to derive this labeling efficiency based on perfusion map due to the irregular cerebral region and potential multi-vessel supply. In this work, tASL MRA is used as a reference scan to derive the needed labeling efficiency for correct derivation of the CBF quantification.
Introduction
Territorial
arterial spin labeling (tASL) [1,2] offers vessel specific flow information
that was only feasible via DSA. However, tASL based perfusion faces a practical
challenge of cerebral blood flow (CBF) quantification that is largely affected
by its non-ideal labeling profile [3]. The actual labeling efficiency is
further complicated by the misalignment between the labeling center and target
artery, due to operational error or patient movement between localizing MRA
scan and tASL. In this work, a rapid tASL MRA is used as calibration scan to
derive the actual labeling efficiency, and hence allows the CBF to be corrected
with respect to conventional ASL.
Method
The
CBF quantification in tASL may be related to that obtained using conventional
non-selective ASL, which is considered to be accurate, by a scaling factor as determined
by the labeling efficiency. This means if we may have a conventional ASL as
well as a tASL on hand, the labeling efficiency may be derived on the run.
However, it is difficult to define a proper ROI in tASL perfusion map due to
the irregular shape of the cerebral perfusion region, as well as the fact that
many regions are fed by multiple arteries that making direct comparison to
conventional ASL incorrect (Fig.1). On
the other hand, MRA features have well constrained and simple region of
interest that is within the vessel wall, hence it is much easier to derive the
labeling efficiency using tASL and conventional MRA. In addition, a much
shorter labeling time can be used to reduce the scan time, blood flow prior to
M1 segment in the internal carotid artery (ICA) suffices for such purpose
(illustrated in Fig.1).
Experiment
Territorial
ASL was implemented for perfusion and MRA (Fig.
2a). The simulated labeling profile for an elliptical labeling region
(long/short axis: 30/20mm) is shown in Fig.2b,
it can be seen that the labeling efficiency drop rapidly as moving away from
the center, hence it is impossible to estimatethe actual labeling efficiency in
practice. 3D spiral read out was used in perfusion while 3D radial
readout was used in MRA. A healthy volunteer without known cerebral vascular
disease was recruited for this study, and consent form was obtained prior to
scan.
The
right internal artery (RICA) was labeled (Fig. 3b) in both tASL perfusion and
tASL MRA, and whole brain coverage acquisition was made. Conventional non-selective
ASL perfusion and ASL MRA were also acquired for reference. An axial slice
perfusion map from tASL is overlaid on the full labeling perfusion map (Fig. 3c, labeling time/PLD =
1000/1525ms), whereas the MIP from tASL with a short labeling time is overlaid
on the full MIP MRA (Fig. 3d,
labeling time/PLD = 200/0ms). In order to verify the consistency of MRA signal to
that of perfusion with varying labeling consistency, the center of the labeling
region was intentionally shifted away from center of the vessel, and signal
variations were observed and compared. The ROI on the perfusion map was placed
on the edge of the right frontal lobe to ensure the sole supply by RICA, ROI on
MRA was selected as regions within the vessel wall in several consecutive axial
slices.
Results
The calculated scaling
factor between non-selective ASL perfusion to tASL perfusion and that between
non-selective ASL MRA to tASL MRA were 2.23 and 2.38 respectively. The tASL
perfusion and MIP tASL MRA images acquired with varying offsets are shown in Fig.4, it can be seen that signal
dropped rapidly with an increasing offset from a vessel center. With a
labeling radius of 30mm, little signal was left with a spatial offset of 18mm.
The labeling efficiencies derived from perfusion map and from MRA with
increasing offsets are plotted on the right top, consistent variations between
the two were observed.
Discussion
and conclusion
A practical difficulty
in tASL perfusion, given its obvious advantage, is the perfusion signal
quantification such as CBF, which is hassled by the unknown labeling
efficiency. In this proof of concept study, this issue is tackled by using tASL
MRA images to derive the actual labeling efficiency. Instead of using the
perfusion maps, MRA images features well defined and sole vessel supplied ROI,
as well as fast acquisition. From the preliminary results, it is observed that
very similar labeling efficiency can be derived from perfusion and MRA. Hence
the labeling efficiency derived from tASL MRA may be translated to tASL
perfusion for correction of the CBF quantification. With further optimization
of the labeling time and acquisition strategy, it might be possible to acquire
needed MRA images within tens of seconds.
Acknowledgements
No acknowledgement found.References
[1]
E. Wong et al., NMR Biomed, 2013
[2]
U. Kondering et al, EJR, 2015
[3] TW Okell et al, J
Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2013