MR Arterial Spin Labeling and Spectroscopy in Patients with Symptomatic Internal Carotid Artery Occlusion

Jie Lu¹, Kuncheng Li, Miao zhang

ASL is a non-invasive method to quantitatively measure perfusion without contrast material. MRS can non-invasively identify cerebral abnormal metabolism. Patients with symptomatic occlusion of the internal carotid artery (ICA) with compromised cerebral blood flow (CBF) and decrease N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) are at risk for future ischemic infarcts in the brain. In this study, we characterized CBF and the concentrations of choline, creatine, and NAA changes in cerebral white matter in patients with symptomatic ICA occlusion. Our result suggested ASL and MRS may provide a convenient, inexpensive, noninvasive method for identifying ICA occlusion patients at risk for future stroke.