Model-free arterial spin labelling for cerebral blood flow quantification: introduction of regional arterial input functions identified by factor analysis

Purpose ntify regional arterial input functions (AIFs) using factor analysis of dynamic studies (FADS) when quantification of perfusion is performed using model-free arterial spin labelling. al and Methods ealthy volunteers and one patient were examined on a 3-T Philips unit using quantitative STAR labelling of arterial regions (QUASAR). Two sets of images were retrieved, one where the arterial signal had been crushed and another where it was retained. FADS was applied to the arterial signal curves to acquire the AIFs. Perfusion maps were obtained using block-circulant SVD deconvolution and regional AIFs obtained by FADS. In the volunteers, the ASL experiment was repeated within 24 h. The patient was also examined using dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI. s healthy volunteers, CBF was 64±10 ml/[min 100 g] (mean±S.D.) in GM and 24±4 ml/[min 100 g] in WM, while the mean aBV was 0.94% in GM and 0.25% in WM. sion BF image quality and reasonable quantitative CBF values were obtained using the combined QUASAR/FADS technique. We conclude that FADS may be a useful supplement in the evaluation of ASL data using QUASAR.