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Abstract #4087

Human Retinal Blood Flow MRI Using Pseudo-Continuous Arterial Spin Labeling and Balanced Steady State Free Precession

Sung-Hong Park1, Yi Zhang1, Jinqi Li1, Qi Peng1, Jiongjiong Wang2, Timothy Q. Duong1

1Research Imaging Institute, Ophthalmology/Radiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States; 2Radiology and Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States


Mapping human retinal blood flow has not been easy with EPI-based arterial spin labeling (ASL) techniques because of significant susceptibility effects around eyes. In this study, we propose to use a combination of pseudo-continuous ASL and balanced steady state free precession (bSSFP) readout for mapping blood flow in the human retina. The results showed reproducible human retinal blood flow, free of motion artifacts, image distortion, signal drop out and bSSFP banding artifacts.