Higher Cerebral Blood Volume Research Articles

Low-Grade Gliomas: Dynamic Susceptibility-weighted Contrast-enhanced Perfusion MR Imaging—Prediction of Patient Clinical Response

To determine retrospectively whether relative cerebral blood volume (CBV) measurements can be used to predict clinical response in patients with low-grade gliomas. Approval for this retrospective HIPAA-compliant study was obtained from the Institutional Board of Research Associates, with waiver of informed consent. Thirty-five patients (23 male and 12 female patients; median age, 39 years; range, 4-80 years) with histologically diagnosed low-grade gliomas (21 low-grade astrocytomas and 14 low-grade oligodendrogliomas and low-grade mixed oligoastrocytomas) were examined with dynamic susceptibility-weighted contrast material-enhanced perfusion magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Wilcoxon tests were used to compare patients in different response categories (complete response, stable, progressive, death) with respect to baseline relative CBV. Kaplan-Meier survival curves, log-rank tests, and Weibull survival models were used to characterize and evaluate the association of baseline relative CBV with time to progression. Tumor volumes and relative CBV measurements were obtained at initial examination and follow-up. Lesions with relative CBV less than 1.75 had a median time to progression of 4620 days +/- 433 (standard deviation), and lesions with relative CBV more than 1.75 had a median time to progression of 245 days +/- 62. Patients who had an adverse event (either death or progression) had significantly higher (P = .003) relative CBV than did patients without adverse events (either complete response or stable disease). Lesions with low baseline relative CBV had stable tumor volumes at follow-up over time, whereas those with high baseline relative CBV (>1.75) had progressively increasing tumor volumes over time. Dynamic susceptibility-weighted contrast-enhanced perfusion MR imaging can help to identify low-grade gliomas that will progress rapidly and a subset of low-grade gliomas that have a propensity for malignant transformation.

Assessment of cerebral hemodynamics and oxygen extraction using dynamic susceptibility contrast and spin echo blood oxygenation level-dependent magnetic resonance imaging: applications to carotid stenosis patients

Blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been recently used to quantify cerebral blood volume (CBV) and oxygen extraction ratio (OER). In the present study, we have exploited the intravascular BOLD model to assess gray matter (GM) OER at hemispheric level using parenchymal T 2 and CBV data at 1.5 T, obtained by single spin echo and dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) perfusion MRI, respectively. An OER of 0.40 ± 0.07 was determined in gray matter for control subjects. A group of carotid stenosis (CS) patients ( n = 22) was examined by multiparametric MRI. The degree of CS was determined by contrast agent-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography. Within the group, eight cases with <70% narrowing of a carotid lumen, nine cases with 70–99%, and five cases with complete occlusion of either carotid arteries were found. DSC MRI revealed abnormalities in 14 patients in dynamic parameters of perfusion images. These included four cases with elevated hemispheric gray matter CBV ipsilateral to the stenosis, above 2 SD of the level determined in control subjects. These four patients showed large variation in the degree of stenosis. We also found three cases with ipsilateral gray matter CBV below 2 SD of the control value, two of these with >70% stenosis. Gray matter OER ipsilateral to the stenosis was above 2 SD of the control range in eight CS patients, three of these showing also high CBV. Use of the present approach to determine OER for the assessment of hemodynamic adaptations in CS patients is discussed in the light of documented hemodynamic adaptations to carotid stenosis.

Echo-Planar MR Cerebral Blood Volume Mapping of Gliomas

Neovascularization is a common phenomenon in gliomas. MR imaging cerebral blood volume (CBV) mapping utilizes ultrasfast echo-planar imaging and simultaneous use of gadolinium-based contrast material. To determine the utility of MR CBV mapping in the clinical evaluation of gliomas, we followed 15 patients with serial studies. This technique provided functional information that was not evident with conventional CT or MR imaging. Low-grade tumors demonstrated homogeneously low CBV, while high-grade tumors often showed areas of both high and low CBV. The maximum tumor CBV/white matter ratio was compared between low- (n = 3) and high-grade gliomas (n = 5) in patients without previous treatment and with histologic verification (n = 8) and was significantly higher in high-grade gliomas (p < 0.01). High CBV foci in nonenhancing tumor areas were present in 2 cases. The distinction between radiation necrosis and active tumor could be made correctly in 3 of 4 cases. The information provided by MR CBV mapping has the potential to be an adjunct in the clinical care of glioma patients.

Cerebral blood flow and cerebral hematocrit in patients with cerebral ischemia measured by single-photon emission computed tomography.

Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was used for the measurement of regional cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV) and cerebral hematocrit (Hct). CBF was measured using N-isopropyl-p-I-123-Iodoamphetamine. CBV was measured by both RBC tracer (Tc-99m RBC) and plasma tracer (Tc-99m human serum albumin) and cerebral hematocrit (Hct) was calculated. In normals, the cerebral-to-large vessel Hct ratio was 75.9%. Isovolemic hemodilution in patients with high Hct tended to increase the cerebral-to-large vessel Hct ratio. Low CBF, high CBV and slow cerebral blood mean transit time (MTT by dynamic CT scanning) was seen during the acute stage of completed infarction and during the symptom-free interval of TIA. Cerebral Hct was increased in the ischemic region of poor prognosis.

Cerebral hyperemia, stroke, and transfusion in sickle cell disease.

To investigate cerebral hemodynamics in sickle cell disease (SCD), we used the 133Xenon inhalation technique of quantifying cerebral blood flow (CBF) in 67 patients. Clinical examinations and cerebral magnetic resonance imaging also were performed in all patients. Compared with age-matched healthy controls, CBF was elevated by 68% in patients, and inversely related to hematocrit. An experimental index of cerebral blood volume, pr4, was also elevated in the patients in a similar manner. Cerebral blood volume was positively correlated to CBF in SCD patients but not in controls. History of stroke and current neurologic symptoms were associated with lower flow and higher cerebral blood volume. Transfusion therapy reduced the hyperemia, the reduction being greater than expected by hematocrit elevation alone. These findings document a vasodilatory hyperemia in SCD. This dilatation may be a risk factor for ischemic distal-field infarctions, as visualized by MRI, due to a limitation of cerebrovascular reserve capacity.

EVALUATION OF CEREBRAL PERFUSION RESERVE IN PATIENTS WITH CAROTID-ARTERY OCCLUSION

Regional cerebral blood flow, oxygen utilisation, fractional oxygen extraction, and cerebral blood volume were measured by positron emission tomography in thirty-two patients with internal-carotidartery occlusion. In most cases, any reduction in cerebral blood flow in the territory distal to an occluded carotid artery was matched to diminished cerebral metabolic demands. Cerebral blood flow was inappropriately low in only six patients, in whom regional oxygen utilisation was maintained by a compensatory rise in oxygen extraction ratio. The frequent finding of high cerebral blood volume distal to occluded vessels was consistent with a state of focal vasodilatation in response to diminished cerebral perfusion pressure. Analysis of the relation between cerebral blood flow, blood volume, and oxygen extraction ratio suggested that the reduction in cerebral perfusion pressure, and hence circulatory reserve; could be most reliably predicted by the ratio of cerebral blood flow to blood volume. By identifying those patients with carotid occlusion who are most compromised on haemodynamic grounds, combined measurement of cerebral blood flow and blood volume should be valuable in selection of candidates for extracranial-intracranial bypass surgery.

EVALUATION OF CEREBRAL PERFUSION RESERVE IN PATIENTS WITH CAROTID-ARTERY OCCLUSION

Regional cerebral blood flow, oxygen utilisation, fractional oxygen extraction, and cerebral blood volume were measured by positron emission tomography in thirty-two patients with internal-carotidartery occlusion. In most cases, any reduction in cerebral blood flow in the territory distal to an occluded carotid artery was matched to diminished cerebral metabolic demands. Cerebral blood flow was inappropriately low in only six patients, in whom regional oxygen utilisation was maintained by a compensatory rise in oxygen extraction ratio. The frequent finding of high cerebral blood volume distal to occluded vessels was consistent with a state of focal vasodilatation in response to diminished cerebral perfusion pressure. Analysis of the relation between cerebral blood flow, blood volume, and oxygen extraction ratio suggested that the reduction in cerebral perfusion pressure, and hence circulatory reserve, could be most reliably predicted by the ratio of cerebral blood flow to blood volume. By identifying those patients with carotid occlusion who are most compromised on haemodynamic grounds, combined measurement of cerebral blood flow and blood volume should be valuable in selection of candidates for extracranial-intracranial bypass surgery.