Superselective Arterial Spin Labeling Applied for Flow Territory Mapping in Selected Clinical Cases - Advantages Over Existing Selective ASL Methods

Michael Helle¹, Matthias van Osch², David Gordon Norris³, Susanne Rfer¹, Karsten Alfke¹, Olav Jansen¹

The ability to visualize perfusion territories in the brain is important for many clinical applications but the selectivity of existing methods is restricted to larger vessels. Superselective arterial spin labeling (ASL) is a recently developed technique that overcomes these limitations and permits labeling of small vessels even distal to the Circle of Willis. In this study, superselective ASL is applied for regional perfusion measurements in selected clinical cases (extra-intracranial bypass, arterio-venous malformation and steno-occlusive disease) showing advantages over conventional selective ASL methods and demonstrating benefits in diagnosis, risk analysis and treatment monitoring when added to current MR-protocols.