Total Curve Analysis of Regional Cerebral Blood Flow with 133Xe Inhalation: Description of Method and Values Obtained with Normal Volunteers

Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) is studied by the 133Xe inhalation method. A mathematical function related to radiation originating from air passages, which contaminates the desired signal, is proposed. Its incorporation into the theoretical model permits use of the entire recorded head curve in subsequent least-squares analyses. Results from this total curve analysis are compared with results from the standard model of Obrist et al. [2] for four normal rest studies performed on each of nine healthy volunteers.