Renal Perfusion Imaging with Two-Dimensional Navigator Gated Arterial Spin Labeling

Huan Tan¹, Ioannis Koktzoglou², ³, Pottumarthi Vara Prasad², ³

A single breath-hold scan does not provide enough time for signal averaging needed by arterial spin labeling technique in renal perfusion measurement. In our study, we have implemented a novel two-dimensional (2D) navigator technique in concert with FAIR True-FISP to minimize respiratory motion via retrospective reconstruction and allow for multiple averages during free-breathing acquisition. The 2D navigator-gated approach achieved good image quality in patients while the breath-hold results were unusable. Given the limitation of using contrast agents in patients with compromised renal function, free breathing ASL offers a non-invasive method to evaluate renal perfusion.