Functional imaging of cerebral perfusion

Abstract

The functional imaging of perfusion enables the study of its properties such as the vasoreactivity to circulating gases, the autoregulation and the neurovascular coupling. Downstream from arterial stenosis, this imaging can estimate the vascular reserve and the risk of ischemia in order to adapt the therapeutic strategy. This method reveals the hemodynamic disorders in patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease or with arteriovenous malformations revealed by epilepsy. Functional MRI of the vasoreactivity also helps to better interpret the functional MRI activation in practice and in clinical research.

Keywords: ASL; Autoregulation; BOLD; CBF; CBV; CVR; Cerebral perfusion; Cerebral vasoreactivity; Functional BOLD MRI; MRA; Neurovascular coupling; P(a)CO(2); P(e)CO(2); arterial pressure in CO(2); arterial spin labeling; blood oxygenation level dependent; cerebral blood flow; cerebral blood volume; cerebral vasoreactivity; expiratory pressure in CO(2); fMRI; functional MRI; magnetic resonance angiography.