Dynamic Ratio Δr2ge/Δr2se3/2 in DSC Perfusion Imaging Reveals the Relative Arterial & Venous Blood Volume Fraction

Chao Xu¹, Valerij Kiselev², Peter Brunecker¹, Jochen Fiebach¹

The characterization of the cerebral microvascular morphology can be achieved by assessing the ratio δR_2GE/δR_2SE^3/2 during DSC perfusion imaging. Rather than following a reversible line, the dynamic ratio forms a counter-clockwise loop in normal brain tissue. We simulated the dynamic involvement of microvasculature during the bolus passage and found out that the counter-clockwise loop results from the higher blood volume of venous blood than that of arterial blood. We suggest that the direction of the loop may indicate the local arterial and venous volume contribution.