Arterial spin labeling for the measurement of cerebral perfusion and angiography. Issue 4 (April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jezzard, Peter; Chappell, Michael A; Okell, Thomas W
• Is Part Of: Journal of cerebral blood flow & metabolism. Volume 38:Issue 4(2018)
• Page Start: 603
• Page End: 626
• Publication Date: 2018-04
• Subjects: Magnetic resonance imaging -- perfusion imaging -- arterial spin labeling -- angiography; Cerebral circulation -- Periodicals; Brain -- Metabolism -- Periodicals; Brain -- Blood-vessels -- Periodicals; Cerebrovascular disease -- Periodicals; 612.824
• DOI: 10.1177/0271678X17743240
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0271-678X

Abstract

Arterial spin labeling (ASL) is an MRI technique that was first proposed a quarter of a century ago. It offers the prospect of non-invasive quantitative measurement of cerebral perfusion, making it potentially very useful for research and clinical studies, particularly where multiple longitudinal measurements are required. However, it has suffered from a number of challenges, including a relatively low signal-to-noise ratio, and a confusing number of sequence variants, thus hindering its clinical uptake. Recently, however, there has been a consensus adoption of an accepted acquisition and analysis framework for ASL, and thus a better penetration onto clinical MRI scanners. Here, we review the basic concepts in ASL and describe the current state-of-the-art acquisition and analysis approaches, and the versatility of the method to perform both quantitative cerebral perfusion measurement, along with quantitative cerebral angiographic measurement.