Alternative Sequence for Arterial Input Function Measurements for Bolus Tracking Perfusion Imaging in the Brain

Elias Kellner¹, Irina Mader², Marco Reisert¹, Valerij G. Kiselev¹

We recently presented a method for a quantitative determination of the arterial input function in the carotid arteries. The AIF-measurement plug-in in the standard DSC perfusion sequence used the apparent shift in the arterial position in one-dimensional projection images and was optimised for high doses of contrast. Here we demonstrate an alternative AIF measurement plug-in for low-dose clinical measurements based on fast two-dimensional readout and the phase AIF. Efficient background suppression using inversion recovery remains a crucial component of the method. We present a comparative discussion of both methods in relation to the dose, tracer type, and the field strength.