Cerebral Blood Volume Measurements Research Articles

High-Resolution fMRI Reveals Laminar Differences in Neurovascular Coupling between Positive and Negative BOLD Responses

The six cortical layers have distinct anatomical andphysiological properties, like different energy use and different feedforward and feedback connectivity. It is not known if and how layer-specific neural processes are reflected in the fMRI signal. To address this question we used high-resolution fMRI to measure BOLD, CBV, and CBF responses to stimuli that elicit positive and negative BOLD signals in macaque primary visual cortex. We found that regions with positive BOLD responses had parallel increases in CBV and CBF, whereas areas with negative BOLD responses showed a decrease in CBF but an increase in CBV. For positive BOLD responses, CBF and CBV increased in the center of the cortex, but for negative BOLD responses, CBF decreased superficially while CBV increased in the center. Our findings suggest different mechanisms for neurovascular coupling for BOLD increases and decreases, aswell as laminar differences in neurovascular coupling.

In Vivo Imaging of Neurovascular Remodeling After Stroke

Stroke is one of the leading causes of adult disability throughout the world and, even though neural mechanisms of loss of function have been extensively studied, many aspects of poststroke cerebral responses remain poorly understood. Of particular interest is the mounting evidence of the capacity of the adult brain to reorganize after injury, which is believed to contribute to limitation of the extent of neural dysfunction and to restoration of affected neural functions. Processes such as neuronal plasticity, glial proliferation, and neovascularization may be essential for preservation or recovery of function after stroke and may conceivably go hand-in-hand at nearby and remote sites of active tissue reorganization.1,2 Specifically, the acute initiation of neurovascular remodeling, stimulating the proliferation and growth of existing arteries/arterioles (ie, arteriogenesis) or new capillaries (ie, angiogenesis), may be critical to facilitate the survival and restructuring of neural tissue, which ultimately may contribute to functional recovery at later stages.3 A variety of vascular imaging strategies is available for in vivo detection, characterization, and quantification of these processes, which can significantly aid in elucidation of the role of neurovascular remodeling after stroke, as discussed in this review. Because most of the described imaging modalities are present in experimental and clinical settings, this raises significant opportunities for translational studies. Growth and remodeling of existing and nascent vascular networks in health and disease involve a number of critical steps that have been comprehensively described by Risau4 and Carmeliet.5 Arteriogenesis involves adaptive growth and proliferation of preexisting (collateral) arteries and arterioles in response to increase in intravascular shear forces. The increased shear stress leads to upregulation of cell adhesion molecules, followed by accumulation of monocytes and other leukocytes that release cytokines and growth factors around the proliferating and maturating arteries.6 Although arteriogenic growth of collateral …

E-071 CT perfusion as a tool to predict the risk of hemorrhagic transformation in ischemic stroke treated with tissue plasminogen activator: a single center experience

ObjectiveTo use the CT Perfusion (CTP) parameters at the time of hospital admission, including Cerebral Blood Volume and Permeability Surface area product (PS), to identify patients with higher risk to...

Reevaluating the imaging definition of tumor progression: perfusion MRI quantifies recurrent glioblastoma tumor fraction, pseudoprogression, and radiation necrosis to predict survival

INTRODUCTION: Contrast-enhanced MRI (CE-MRI) represents the current mainstay for monitoring treatment response in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), based on the premise that enlarging lesions reflect increasing tumor burden, treatment failure, and poor prognosis. Unfortunately, irradiating such tumors can induce changes in CE-MRI that mimic tumor recurrence, so called post treatment radiation effect (PTRE), and in fact, both PTRE and tumor re-growth can occur together. Because PTRE represents treatment success, the relative histologic fraction of tumor growth versus PTRE affects survival. Studies suggest that Perfusion MRI (pMRI)–based measures of relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) can noninvasively estimate histologic tumor fraction to predict clinical outcome. There are several proposed pMRI-based analytic methods, although none have been correlated with overall survival (OS). This study compares how well histologic tumor fraction and OS correlate with several pMRI-based metrics. METHODS: We recruited previously treated patients with GBM undergoing surgical re-resection for suspected tumor recurrence and calculated preoperative pMRI-based metrics within CE-MRI enhancing lesions: rCBV mean, mode, maximum, width, and a new thresholding metric called pMRI–fractional tumor burden (pMRI-FTB). We correlated all pMRI-based metrics with histologic tumor fraction and OS. RESULTS: Among 25 recurrent patients with GBM, histologic tumor fraction correlated most strongly with pMRI-FTB (r = 0.82; P < .0001), which was the only imaging metric that correlated with OS (P<.02). CONCLUSION: The pMRI-FTB metric reliably estimates histologic tumor fraction (i.e., tumor burden) and correlates with OS in the context of recurrent GBM. This technique may offer a promising biomarker of tumor progression and clinical outcome for future clinical trials.

Abstract 3268: Ct Perfusion As A Tool To Predict The Risk Of Hemorrhagic Transformation In Ischemic Stroke Treated With Tissue Plasminogen Activator: A Single Center Experience.

Objective: To use the Computed Tomography Perfusion (CTP) parameters at the time of hospital admission, including Cerebral Blood Volume (CBV) and Permeability Surface area product (PS), to identify patients with higher risk to develop hemorrhagic transformation in the setting of acute stroke therapy with intravenous thrombolysis. Methods: Retrospective study that compared admission CTP variables between patients with Hemorrhagic Transformation (HT) acute stroke and those with no hemorrhagic transformation. Both groups received standard of care intravenous thrombolysis with tPA. Twenty patients presented to our stroke center between the years 2007 - 2011 within 3 hours after stroke symptoms onset. All patients underwent two-phase 320 slice CTP which creates CBV and PS measurements. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether or not they had HT on a follow up CT head without contrast, done within 36 hours of the thrombolysis therapy. Clinical, demographic and CTP variables were compared between the HT and non-HT groups using logistic regression analyses. Results: HT developed in 8 (40%) patients. Patients with HT had lower ASPECT score ( P =.03), higher NIHSS on admission ( P= .01) and worse outcome ( P= .04) compared to patients who did not develop HT. Baseline blood flow defects were comparable between the two groups. The mean PS for the HT group was 0.53 mL/min/100g brain tissue, which was significantly higher than that for the non-HT group of 0.04 mL/min/100g brain tissue ( P &lt;.0001). The mean area under the curve was 0.92 (95% CI). The PS threshold of 0.26 mL/min/100g brain tissue had a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 92% for detecting patients with high risk of hemorrhagic transformation after intravenous thrombolysis. Conclusions: Admission CTP measurements might be useful to predict patients who are at higher risk to develop hemorrhagic transformation after acute ischemic stroke therapy.

Comparison between intensity normalization techniques for dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC)‐MRI estimates of cerebral blood volume (CBV) in human gliomas

To compare "standardization," "Gaussian normalization," and "Z-score normalization" intensity transformation techniques in dynamic susceptibility contrast magnetic resonance imaging (DSC-MRI) estimates of cerebral blood volume (CBV) in human gliomas. DSC-MRI is a well-established biomarker for CBV in brain tumors; however, DSC-MRI estimates of CBV are semiquantitative. The use of image intensity transformation algorithms provides a mechanism for obtaining quantitatively similar CBV maps with the same intensity scaling. The coefficient of variance (CV) in normal-appearing white matter and relative contrast between tumor regions and normal tissue was compared between the three CBV transformations across five different MR scanners in 96 patients with gliomas. The results suggest all normalization techniques improved variability and relative tumor contrast of CBV measurements compared with nonnormalized CBV maps. The results suggest Gaussian normalization of CBV maps provided slightly lower CV in normal white matter and provided slightly higher tumor contrast for glioblastomas (WHO grade IV) compared with other techniques. The results suggest Gaussian normalization of leakage-corrected CBV maps may be the best choice for image intensity correction for use in large-scale, multicenter clinical trials where MR scanners and protocols vary widely due to ease of implementation, lowest variability, and highest tumor to normal tissue contrast.

IRON fMRI measurements of CBV and implications for BOLD signal

Changes in cerebral blood volume (CBV) and blood magnetization each induce changes in the transverse relaxation rate of MRI signal that are associated with changes in cerebral activity. BOLD signal, the preeminent method for non-invasive localization of task-induced brain function in human subjects, reflects a combination of changes in CBV and blood magnetization. Intravenous injection of paramagnetic contrast media, usually iron oxide particles surrounded by larger macromolecules, can overwhelm the BOLD response and sensitize signal to blood plasma volume, a method we have deemed "IRON" fMRI. The practical advantage of this technique is the ability to optimize blood magnetization at any echo time, enabling high detection power and the use of short echo times; for these reasons, IRON fMRI has become a valuable imaging tool in animal models. The temporal response of blood plasma volume is quite different from blood flow and BOLD signal; thus, CBV has been identified as a prominent source of transient features of the BOLD response. This article reviews the methodological advantages of the IRON method and how CBV measurements have informed our understanding of the BOLD response.

Evaluation of combined bevacizumab plus irinotecan therapy in brain tumors using magnetic resonance imaging measures of relative cerebral blood volume

Frequently, bevacizumab is combined with chemotherapeutics such as irinotecan, motivated by studies showing improved clinical outcomes compared with historical controls. However, no systematic studies have been performed to determine if and how these drugs should be combined for optimal therapeutic response. The purpose of this study was to characterize the temporal combinations of bevacizumab and irinotecan by measuring the contrast-agent enhanced tumor volumes and relative cerebral blood volume using dynamic susceptibility contrast imaging. The studies, performed in the U87 brain tumor model, show a vascular normalization window with bevacizumab monotherapy and are consistent with clinical indications of no additional benefit in the addition of irinotecan to bevacizumab therapy.

Quantification of arterial cerebral blood volume using multiphase‐balanced SSFP‐based ASL

A new technique is introduced in this study for in vivo measurement of arterial cerebral blood volume by combining arterial spin labeling with a segmented multiphase balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) readout sequence. This technique takes advantage of the phenomenon that the longitudinal magnetization of flowing blood is not or only marginally disturbed (besides T(1) relaxation) by the bSSFP ± α pulse train. When the blood water exchanges into tissue, it becomes quickly saturated by the bSSFP pulse train due to 0 velocity and reduced T(1), T(2) relaxation times. Therefore, labeled blood water behaves like an intravascular contrast agent in multiphase bSSFP scans, and can be used to quantify arterial cerebral blood volume in a similar way as dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI. Both Bloch equation simulation and in vivo experiments were carried out to demonstrate the feasibility for quantifying cerebral blood volume in arteries, arterioles, and capillaries using two variants of the proposed method. Functional MRI of visual cortex stimulation was further performed using multiphase bSSFP-based arterial spin labeling and compared with vascular-space occupancy contrast. The proposed multiphase bSSFP-based arterial spin labeling technique may allow separation of cerebral blood volume of different vascular compartments for functional MRI studies and clinical evaluation of the cerebral vasculature.

Combined Diffusion and Perfusion MRI As Biomarkers of Prognosis in Immunocompetent Patients with Primary CNS Lymphoma

Abstract 2655 Background and Purpose:The prospect for advances in the treatment and improvement in the prognosis of patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is likely dependent on the systemic evaluation of its pathobiology and identification of biomarkers that can guide and monitor response to therapy. The validation of noninvasive imaging-based biomarkers of prognosis and therapeutic response may have significant impact on the management of patients with PCNSL. Recent work suggests that apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements derived from diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) may predict prognosis in immunocompetent patients with PCNSL. The purpose of our study was to validate ADC measurement as a prognostic biomarker in patients with PCNSL and to evaluate whether relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) measurement derived from dynamic susceptibility-weighted contrast-enhanced (DSC) perfusion MRI may also serve as predictor of outcome. Materials and Methods:We studied pre-therapy imaging of 26 immunocompetent patients with PCNSL that were treated homogeneously with methotrexate-based chemotherapy. We measured anatomic tumor volume and peri-tumoral edema volume from post-contrast T1-weighted and T2-weighted images, respectively. ADC map and rCBV map were generated from DW-MRI and DSC perfusion MRI, respectively. Post-contrast T1-weighted images containing regions of interest (ROIs) outlining contrast enhancing tumor were co-registered with the ADC and rCBV maps and minimum and mean ADC and rCBV values were measured. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were measured. The Welch t-test assessed differences between groups. Multivariate Cox survival analysis was performed. Results:Anatomic tumor volume or peri-tumoral edema volume at initial diagnosis did not correlate with OS or PFS. However, baseline ADC and rCBV measurements of tumor had significant association with clinical outcome measurements: patients with low minimum ADC (ADCmin) or low mean rCBV (rCBVmean) had worse OS and PFS. The high ADCmin-high rCBVmean group had the best and low ADCmin-low rCBVmean group had the worst PFS and OS. Multivariate Cox survival analysis identified no other imaging-based variables besides ADC and rCBV that significantly affected survival. Conclusion:Our study further supports the potential of non-invasive ADC measurement as a valid and reliable prognostic biomarker in patients with PCNSL. In addition, our study is the first evaluation of perfusion MRI as a prognostic biomarker in PCNSL. We have generated evidence that reduced perfusion, suggestive of hypoxic tumor microenvironment, is associated with adverse prognosis in patients with PCNSL. In addition, our data suggests that perfusion-based parameters enhance the prognostic utility of ADC measurements in the evaluation of newly diagnosed patients with CNS lymphoma.Supported by NIH RO1CA139-83-01A1 and Pathways to Careers in Clinical and Translational Research (PACCTR) Program (FEV). Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Cerebral Blood Volume Measurements – Gd_DTPA vs. VASO - and Their Relationship with Cerebral Blood Flow in Activated Human Visual Cortex

Measurements of task-induced changes in cerebral blood volume (CBV) have been demonstrated using VAscular Space Occupancy (VASO) techniques (noninvasive and newly developed) and a contrast agent-based (Gd- DTPA) method (invasive but well-established) with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). We compared the two methods in determining CBV changes during multi-frequency visual stimulation (4 and 8 Hz). Specifically, we aimed to assess the impact of repetition time (TR) on CBV changes determination using VASO. With additional measurements of cerebral blood flow (CBF), the flow-volume coupling relationship (α value) and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen were further determined. The results showed that i) using VASO, short TR (2s) caused overestimation of CBV changes, while long TR (6s) generated consistent CBV results, by comparison to the GD-DTPA method; ii) overestimation of CBV changes caused underestimated CMRO2 changes, but did not alter the frequency-related pattern, i.e., CMRO2 changes at 4 Hz were greater than those at 8 Hz regardless of the TR; and iii) the tasked-induced CBF-CBV coupling was stimulus frequency-dependent, i.e., α = 0.35-0.38 at 4 Hz and α = 0.51-0.53 at 8 Hz. Our data demonstrated that, with carefully chosen TRs, CBV measurements can be achieved non-invasively with VASO techniques.

Combined Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Measurements of Cerebral Blood Volume, Oxygenation, Cytochrome Oxidase, and Intracellular Metabolites During Perinatal Hypoxia-Ischaemia

Combined Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Measurements of Cerebral Blood Volume, Oxygenation, Cytochrome Oxidase, and Intracellular Metabolites During Perinatal Hypoxia-Ischaemia

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Assessment of Cerebral Oxygen Metabolism in the Developing Premature Brain

Little is known about cerebral blood flow, cerebral blood volume (CBV), oxygenation, and oxygen consumption in the premature newborn brain. We combined quantitative frequency-domain near-infrared spectroscopy measures of cerebral hemoglobin oxygenation (SO2) and CBV with diffusion correlation spectroscopy measures of cerebral blood flow index (BFix) to determine the relationship between these measures, gestational age at birth (GA), and chronological age. We followed 56 neonates of various GA once a week during their hospital stay. We provide absolute values of SO2 and CBV, relative values of BFix, and relative cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (rCMRO2) as a function of postmenstrual age (PMA) and chronological age for four GA groups. SO2 correlates with chronological age (r=−0.54, P value ⩽0.001) but not with PMA (r=−0.07), whereas BFix and rCMRO2 correlate better with PMA (r=0.37 and 0.43, respectively, P value ⩽0.001). Relative CMRO2 during the first month of life is lower when GA is lower. Blood flow index and rCMRO2 are more accurate biomarkers of the brain development than SO2 in the premature newborns.

Applicability of Tableside Flat Panel Detector CT Parenchymal Cerebral Blood Volume Measurement in Neurovascular Interventions: Preliminary Clinical Experience

CBV is a vital perfusion parameter in estimating the viability of brain parenchyma (eg, in cases of ischemic stroke or after interventional vessel occlusion). Recent technologic advances allow parenchymal CBV imaging tableside in the angiography suite just before, during, or after an interventional procedure. The aim of this work was to analyze our preliminary clinical experience with this new imaging tool in different neurovascular interventions. FPD-CBV measurement was performed on a biplane FPD angiographic system. Eighteen patients (11 women, 7 men) were examined (age range, 18-86 years; median, 58.7 years). In the 10 patients with stroke, the extent of intracranial hypoperfusion was evaluated. The remaining 8 patients had an intracranial hemorrhage; periprocedural CBV was evaluated during the course of interventional treatment. In the 18 cases studied, 23 CBV measurements were performed. Twenty acquisitions were of sufficient diagnostic quality. The remaining 3 acquisitions failed technically, 1 due to motion artifacts and 2 due to injection technique and/or hardware failure. FPD-CBV measurement in the angiography suite provides a feasible and helpful tool for peri-interventional neuroimaging. It extends the intraprocedural imaging modalities to the level of tissue perfusion. However, the technique has technical limitations and shows room for improvement in the future.

Characterization of paramagnetic effects of molecular oxygen on blood oxygenation level‐dependent‐modulated hyperoxic contrast studies of the human brain

In hyperoxic contrast studies modulated by the blood oxygenation level-dependent effect, it is often assumed that hyperoxia is a purely intravascular, positive contrast agent in T 2*-weighted images, and the effects that are not due to blood oxygenation level-dependent contrast are small enough to be ignored. In this study, this assumption is re-evaluated and non-blood oxygenation level-dependent effects in T 2*-weighted hyperoxic contrast studies of the human brain were characterized. We observed significant negative signal changes in T 2*-weighted images in the frontal lobes; B(0) maps suggest that this effect was primarily due to increased intravoxel dephasing from increased static field inhomogeneity due to susceptibility changes from oxygen in and around the upper airway. These static field effects were shown to scale with magnetic field strength. Signal changes observed around the brain periphery and in the ventricles suggest the effect of image distortions from oxygen-induced bulk B(0) shifts, along with a possible contribution from decreased T 2* due to oxygen dissolved in the cerebrospinal fluid. Reducing the concentration of inhaled oxygen was shown to mitigate negative contrast of molecular oxygen due to these effects, while still maintaining sufficient blood oxygenation level-dependent contrast to produce accurate measurements of cerebral blood volume.

Role of perfusion-weighted imaging at 3 T in the histopathological differentiation between astrocytic and oligodendroglial tumors

The differentiation of oligodendroglial tumors from astrocytic tumors is important clinically, because oligodendroglial tumors are more chemosensitive than astrocytic tumors. This study was designed to clarify the usefulness of 3T MR perfusion imaging (PWI) in the histopathological differentiation between astrocytic and oligodendroglial tumors. This is because there is a growing interest in the diagnostic performance of 3T MR imaging, which has the advantages of a higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and greater spatial and temporal resolution. This study retrospectively included 24 consecutive patients with supratentorial, WHO grade II and III astrocytic and oligodendroglial tumors (7 astrocytic, 10 oligoastrocytic, and 7 oligodendroglial tumors) that were newly diagnosed and resected between November 2006 and December 2009 at Hiroshima University Hospital. These patients underwent dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced (DSC) PWI relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) measurements before treatment. Astrocytic tumors were designated as the astrocytic group, and oligoastrocytic and oligodendroglial tumors as the oligodendroglial group. The regions of interest with the maximum rCBV values within the tumors were normalized relative to the contra-lateral white matter (rCBVmax). The average rCBVmax of astrocytic tumors (2.01±0.68) was significantly lower than that of the oligoastrocytic (4.60±1.05) and oligodendroglial tumors (6.17±0.867) (P<0.0001). A cut-off value of 3.0 allowed to differentiate the oligodendroglial group from the astrocytic group at 100% sensitivity and 87.5% specificity. The rCBVmax values obtained from 3T MR PWI may be useful as an adjunct to the postoperative histopathological diagnosis of glioma patients.

Fuelling the exercising brain: a regulatory quagmire for lactate metabolism

Fuelling the exercising brain: a regulatory quagmire for lactate metabolism

Ｃ‐Ａｒｍ ＣＴを備えた脳血管撮影装置での経動脈的造影剤投与法による脳血液量の計測（Ｎｅｕｒｏ ＰＢＶ）および頭蓋内血流動態評価画像（ｉＦｌｏｗ）の検討

【目的】CアームCTを備えた血管撮影装置での新たなアプリケーションである脳血液量（CBV）の計測（Neuro PBV）と，頭蓋内血流動態画像（iFlow）について報告する．【方法】Neuro PBVはマスク撮影後に造影剤を注入して2度目の撮影を行い，両者の差から組織造影剤濃度分布を得てCBVを算出し，iFlowは造影剤の経時的な血管内移動をカラーマップ表示するものである．それぞれの有効性と適切な撮影方法を検討した．【結果】撮影手順を確立し，両者とも良好な画像を得ることができた．【結論】現状では撮影方法を含めた検討が必要であるが，脳血管内治療において有用な情報を提供するツールになると思われる．

Correlation of MR Relative Cerebral Blood Volume Measurements with Cellular Density and Proliferation in High-Grade Gliomas: An Image-Guided Biopsy Study

As newer MR imaging techniques are used to assist with tumor grading, biopsy planning, and therapeutic response assessment, there is a need to relate the imaging characteristics to underlying pathologic processes. The aim of this study was to see how rCBV, a known marker of tumor vascularity, relates to cellular packing attenuation and cellular proliferation. Nine patients with histologically proved high-grade gliomas and 1 with a supratentorial PNET requiring an image-guided biopsy were recruited. Patients underwent a DSC study. The rCBV at the intended biopsy sites was determined by using a histogram measure to derive the mean, maximum, and 75th centile and 90th centile values. This measure was correlated with histologic markers of the MIB-1 labeling index (as a marker of glioma cell proliferation) and the total number of neoplastic cells in a high-power field (cellular packing attenuation). There was a good correlation between rCBV and MIB-1 by using all the measures of rCBV. The mean rCBV provided the best results (r = 0.66, P < .001). The only correlation with cellular packing attenuation was with the 90% centile (rCBV(90%), r = 0.36, P = .03). The increase in rCBV could be seen over 1 cm from the edge of enhancement in 4/10 cases, and at 2 cm in 1/10. rCBV correlated with cellular proliferation in high-grade gliomas but not with cellular packing attenuation. The increase in rCBV extended beyond the contrast-enhancing region in 50% of our patients.

SCALE-PWI: A Pulse Sequence for Absolute Quantitative Cerebral Perfusion Imaging

The Bookend technique is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) dynamic susceptibility contrast method that provides reliable quantitative measurement of cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral blood volume (CBV). The quantification is patient specific, is derived from a steady-state measurement of CBV, and is obtained from T(1) changes in the white matter and the blood pool after contrast agent injection. In the current implementation, the Bookend technique consists of three scanning steps requiring a cumulative scan time of 3 minutes 47 seconds, a well-trained technologist, and extra time for offline image reconstruction. We present an automation and acceleration of the multiscan Bookend protocol through a self-calibrating pulse sequence, namely Self-Calibrated Epi Perfusion-Weighted Imaging (SCALE-PWI). The SCALE-PWI is a single-shot echo-planar imaging pulse sequence with three modules and a total scan time of under 2 minutes. It provides the possibility of performing online, quantitative perfusion image reconstruction, which reduces the latency to obtain quantitative maps. A validation study in healthy volunteers (N=19) showed excellent agreement between SCALE-PWI and the conventional Bookend protocol (P>0.05 with Student's t-test, r=0.95/slope=0.98 for quantitative CBF, and r=0.91/slope=0.94 for quantitative CBV). A single MRI pulse sequence for absolute quantification of cerebral perfusion has been developed.