We previously studied vascular supply of meningiomas with angio-CT. This experience led us to do new research work using MR regional perfusion imaging (RPI). When we applied RPI with selective labeling of the external carotid artery to a patient with meningioma, we happened to detect an interesting finding about vascular supply of the meningioma. From this experience, we thought that this RPI information might be useful for assessment of vascular supply of hypervascular extra-axial brain tumors. Therefore, we did the RPI study for some patients with meningioma.

In these clinical experiences we found that tumor vascular territories obtained from the combined information of conventional arterial spin-labeling and RPI correlate with catheter angiography results. RPI can provide useful information about both the volumetric anatomy and the distribution of vascular territories, information that cannot be obtained with catheter angiography alone.

We have also applied this RPI technique to the assessment of cerebral perfusion from bypass arteries in patients with Moyamoya disease. Thus, the RPI technique is promising, and might replace catheter angiography for certain diagnostic purposes.

References

1. Hirai T, Korogi Y, Ono K, et al. Preoperative embolization for meningeal tumors: evaluation of vascular supply with angio-CT. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2004;25:74–76
2. Kitajima M, Hirai T, Shigematsu Y, et al. Assessment of cerebral perfusion from bypass arteries using magnetic resonance regional perfusion imaging in patients with Moyamoya disease. Jpn J Radiol 2010;28:746–53. doi: 10.1007/s11604-010-0507-0

 

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