Feasibility of Cerebral Blood Flow Quantification via Biexponential Diffusion Analysis Using Phase-contrast MRI

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of noninvasive cerebral blood flow (CBF) measurement by quantifying the flow-related parameter obtained from intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) imaging using phase contrast imaging. METHODS: Fifteen healthy volunteers (10 men and 5 women; age, 40±12 years) were enrolled in this study. The product of perfusion fraction f and pseudo-diffusion coefficient D*, fD* from IVIM were calculated. The fD* quantified using phase contrast imaging (fD*-CBF), CBF from arterial spin labeling (ASL-CBF), and fD* were measured in the gray matter (GM) and the white matter (WM) regions. RESULTS: The fD*-CBF values were significantly lower than ASL-CBF values (P<0.001) in GM and WM regions. In the GM regions, the fD*-CBF values were significantly correlated with ASL-CBF values (rho=0.82, P<0.001). Additionally, Bland-Altman plot indicated good agreement between fD*-CBF and ASL-CBF. There was no significant correlation between fD* and ASL-CBF in GM and WM regions (rho=0.33, P=0.23; rho=0.14, P=0.62). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that fD*-CBF has potential as a noninvasive CBF measurement.