Perfusion Correction of Brain Tumor Functional Diffusion Maps

Alexander D. Cohen¹, Pete S. LaViolette², Melissa A. Prah², Kathleen M. Schmainda, ¹²

Functional diffusion maps (fDMs) use temporal changes in ADC to monitor brain tumor progression and treatment response. Traditional fDMs, calculated with b=0,1000 s/mm2, are confounded by perfusion effects. This study used flow compensated fDMs, calculated with b=500,1000 s/mm2, to evaluate the effects of perfusion changes on longitudinal diffusion differences. Voxels classified differently on flow compensated fDMs vs. traditional fDMs had significant perfusion changes. This indicates flow compensated fDMs are less sensitive to perfusion effects as voxels classified as changing ADC on the traditional fDM solely due to perfusion effects are classified as not changing ADC on the flow compensated fDM.