Perfusion/diffusion quantitation with magnetic resonance imaging.

Abstract

Quantitation of perfusion and diffusion in tissues using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques is an active area of research in many laboratories. Several different approaches have been taken to address the problem of determining microcirculatory flow or perfusion in the body with MRI. Methods have been developed that depend on pulse sequence designs to sensitize the acquisitions to proton movement that is part of physiologic perfusion. Other methods that are being studied take a different approach by using injected MR contrast agents coupled with high temporal resolution acquisitions to produce time-density curves that can be related to perfusion in the tissues of interest. Yet other approaches use blood as the tracer itself to provide a means of determining perfusion. All of these techniques and others provide quantitative information related to microcirculatory flow in tissues.