The effect of Xenon Inhalation Speed on Cerebral Blood Flow Obtained Using the End-Tidal Method in Xenon-Enhanced CT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this work is to show how variations in inhalation speed of xenon gas affect cerebral blood flow (CBF) values obtained using the end-tidal method on xenon-enhanced CT (Xe-CT). We tried to clarify whether arterial xenon concentration could keep up with end-tidal xenon concentration by evaluating the effect of xenon inhalation speed on calculated CBF values. METHOD: The same subject underwent two or three consecutive Xe-CT examinations, varying xenon inhalation speed. The rate constants of applied inhalation speeds were 0.1-0.15 min-1 (low speed), 0.25-0.3 min-1 (middle speed), and 1-2 min-1 (high speed), respectively. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed among the CBF values of the same subject obtained under different inhalation speeds. CONCLUSION: End-tidal xenon can closely reflect arterial xenon under the customary method of xenon supply. The end-tidal method can provide reliable absolute CBF values, assuming actual CBF values are substantially unchanged regardless of the inhalation speed variation applied in this work.