Magnetic Resonance Perfusion Tracks 133 Xe Cerebral Blood Flow Changes After Carotid Stenting

• Published in: Stroke (1970) 2005-03, Vol.36 (3), p.676-678
• Main Authors: Ko, Nerissa U., Achrol, Achal S., Martin, Alastair J., Chopra, Manju, Saloner, David A., Higashida, Randall T., Young, William L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0039-2499; 1524-4628
• DOI: 10.1161/01.STR.0000155743.60019.e5

Background and Purpose— To compare magnetic resonance (MR) perfusion to gold-standard cerebral blood flow (CBF) determined by intra-arterial 133 Xe washout method. Methods— Eight patients with high-grade carotid stenoses underwent bolus-tracking MR perfusion and intra-arterial 133 Xe washout before and after carotid stenting. MR perfusion was compared with 133 Xe-CBF values using Pearson linear correlation analysis. Results— We observed a mean 37±38% increase in 133 Xe-CBF and a mean 19±27% increase in relative CBF (rCBF) by MR perfusion immediately after stent placement. Relative (percent) changes in MR-rCBF showed a close and linear correlation to those seen in 133 Xe-CBF ( r =0.91; R 2 =0.84; P =0.002). There was a trend for MR perfusion to underestimate change in CBF at higher relative changes in flow. Conclusion— Bolus-tracking MR perfusion correlates with 133 Xe-CBF in estimating postprocedural increases in blood flow but may underestimate the magnitude of the change with higher relative changes.