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Semin Neurol 2012; 32(04): 454-465
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1331815
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Cerebral Perfusion Imaging

Aaron R. Hochberg
1   Section of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
,
Geoffrey S. Young
1   Section of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History

Publication Date:
29 January 2013 (online)

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Abstract

Recent advances are allowing computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to add diagnostic information derived from microscopic-scale brain structure, pathology, and physiology to the gross pathologic information that has been the core of brain imaging diagnosis since the 1980s. Physiologic imaging with MR perfusion weighted imaging has joined MR diffusion imaging as an essential components of stroke and brain tumor MRI. At the same time, the volume scanning revolution in CT technology has dramatically decreased the radiation doses required for CT perfusion imaging by allowing routine simultaneous CT perfusion and noninvasive dynamic bone subtracted CT angiography (CTA) without a significant increase in radiation dose over conventional head CT–CTA alone. Although ongoing research and clinical trials is needed to define more precisely how these techniques can best be exploited to improve clinical care and patient outcomes, in the acute stroke and subarachnoid hemorrhage populations the radiation risk associated with CT perfusion imaging is negligible and the physiologic information promises significant patient safety benefits.

Keywords

perfusion - stroke - brain tumor
 

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