Abstract #0884

Lu H, Law M, Hesseltine S, Rapalino O, Jensen J, Helpern J

While MRI techniques for brain perfusion measurement are well established, the perfusion quantification in spinal cord is more difficult because the dynamically acquired EPI images often show significant distortions and, more importantly, the arterial input function required for quantification is not readily measurable in the spinal cord. In this study, a steady state approach is used that acquires two VASO images before and after the contrast agent (Gd-DTPA) injection. This technique allows the calculation of spinal cord blood volume (SCBV) in physiological units. The results show an averaged SCBV of 4.120.65ml blood/100ml tissue in six subjects.