Abstract #0914

Comparison of Pulsed Arterial Spin Labeling (PASL) and Pseudo-Continuous Arterial Spin Labeling (PCASL) Methods for Measuring Brain Perfusion in Newborns

Elodie Boudes¹, Guillaume Gilbert², Christine Saint-Martin³, Ilana Ruth Leppert⁴, Bruce G. Pike⁴, Pia Wintermark¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Division of Newborn Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; ²MR Clinical Science, Philips Healthcare, Montreal, QC, Canada; ³Department of Radiology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; ⁴Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada

Arterial spin labeling (ASL) perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI) by magnetic resonance imaging has been shown to be useful for identifying asphyxiated newborns at risk of developing brain injury, whether or not hypothermia was administered. Our study compares two methods of ASL-PWI (i.e. PASL and pCASL) to assess brain perfusion in healthy newborns and in asphyxiated newborns treated with hypothermia. It demonstrates that both ASL methods are feasible and reproducible to assess brain perfusion in these newborns. However, pCASL might be a better choice, as pCASL perfusion maps were of better quality and permitted more detailed identification of the injured brain areas.