Dynamic Susceptibility Contrast (DSC) Applications
Seung Hong Choi1
1Seoul National University Hospital, Korea, Republic of

Synopsis

Keywords: Neuro: Brain, Neuro: Cerebrovascular, Contrast mechanisms: Perfusion

Dynamic Susceptibility Contrast (DSC) is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique that measures changes in magnetic susceptibility caused by the passage of a contrast agent through the cerebral vasculature to assess brain perfusion.

Dynamic Susceptibility Contrast (DSC) is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique used to assess brain perfusion. It is based on the measurement of changes in the magnetic susceptibility caused by the passage of a contrast agent through the cerebral vasculature. DSC-MRI provides information on cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV), and mean transit time (MTT).During DSC-MRI acquisition, a bolus of contrast agent is injected intravenously and the resulting signal intensity changes in the brain are measured using T2*-weighted MRI sequences. The contrast agent used in DSC-MRI is usually a gadolinium-based contrast agent, which shortens T2* relaxation time and enhances the MRI signal.DSC-MRI analysis involves the calculation of perfusion parameters, which provide information about the hemodynamic status of brain tissue. CBF reflects the rate of blood flow in a given volume of brain tissue, while CBV reflects the total volume of blood in the same volume of brain tissue. MTT is the average time taken for blood to pass through a given volume of brain tissue.DSC-MRI has several clinical applications, including the evaluation of acute stroke, brain tumors, and vascular malformations. In stroke, DSC-MRI can identify the ischemic penumbra, which is the region of tissue at risk of infarction. In brain tumors, DSC-MRI can help differentiate between high-grade and low-grade tumors, as well as assess the extent of tumor vascularity. DSC-MRI is also useful in the diagnosis and management of cerebral vascular malformations.In conclusion, DSC-MRI is a valuable tool in the assessment of brain perfusion, providing information on CBF, CBV, and MTT. Its clinical applications include stroke, brain tumors, and vascular malformations, and it is an essential component of neuroimaging protocols in many centers.

Acknowledgements

No acknowledgement found.

References

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Proc. Intl. Soc. Mag. Reson. Med. 31 (2023)