Preliminary application of arterial spin labeling perfusion 1.5T MR imaging for cerebral infarction

Objective:To investigate the feasibility of arterial spin labeling(ASL)perfusion 1.5T MR imaging in assessment of cerebral infarction.Methods:34 patients of cerebral infarction with ASL-perfusion MR imaging,conventional T1 and T2-weighted imagings,diffusion weighted imaging(DWI)and furthermore,magnetic resonance angiography(MRA)were reviewed and divided into two groups,large and small areas of infarction,according to Adamas classification.Areas of infarction measured on ASL-perfusion MR imaging and DWI were compared,cerebral blood flow(CBF)values in abnormal and contralateral normal regions were compared.Results:There were 20 massive infarctions and 14 small area infarctions.Of the 20 massive infarctions,ASL-perfusion MR imaging revealed larger area of low perfusion than that of DWI in 5 cases,equal in area for 9,less extent in 5 and no abnormal perfusion in one.Of the 14 cases of small infarction,ASL-perfusion MR imaging depicted low perfusion area in 6 cases,high perfusion in one,and failed to reveal any definite abnormal perfusion in 7 cases.Cerebral blood flow(CBF)values in all abnormal regions were lower than those of the normal regions,except one case showed the reversal of high perfusion.Conclusion:Perfusion changes in cerebral infarction using ASL-perfusion 1.5T MR imaging can be basically and practically utilized for depicting cerebral blood flows,but further study is necessary for strict correlation and clinical significance.