Dose reduction in dynamic perfusion CT of the brain: Effects of the scan frequency on measurements of cerebral blood flow, cerebral blood volume, and mean transit time

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Martin Wiesmann - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • Scott Berg - , University of Lübeck (Author)
  • G. Bohner - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • R. Klingebiel - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • V. Schöpf - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • B. M. Stoeckelhuber - , University of Lübeck (Author)
  • I. Yousry - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • J. Linn - , Hospital of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • U. Missler - , Evangelical Hospital Duisburg-Nord (Author)

Abstract

The influence of the frequency of computed tomography (CT) image acquistion on the diagnostic quality of dynamic perfusion CT (PCT) studies of the brain was investigated. Eight patients with clinically suspected acute ischemia of one hemisphere underwent PCT, performed on average 3.4 h after the onset of symptoms. Sixty consecutive images per slice were obtained with individual CT images obtained at a temporal resolution of two images per second. Eight additional data sets were reconstructed with temporal resolutions ranging from one image per second to one image per 5 s. Cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV) and mean transit time (MTT) measurements were performed in identical regions of interest. Two neuroradiologists evaluated the PCT images visually to identify areas of abnormal perfusion. Perfusion images created up to a temporal resolution of one image per 3 s were rated to be diagnostically equal to the original data. Even at one image per 4 s, all areas of infarction were identified. Quantitative differences of CBF, CBV and MTT measurements were ≤10% up to one image per 3 s. For PCT of the brain, temporal resolution can be reduced to one image per 3 s without significant compromise in image quality. This significantly reduces the radiation dose of the patient.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2967-2974
Number of pages8
JournalEuropean radiology
Volume18
Issue number12
Publication statusPublished - 2008
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

PubMed 18618120

Keywords

Keywords

  • Cerebrovascular disorders, Computed tomography, Perfusion CT, Perfusion imaging, Stroke