Influence of Arterial Input Function on Hypoperfusion Volumes Measured with Perfusion-Weighted Imaging

Abstract

Background and Purpose-The arterial input function (AIF) is critical in determining hemodynamic parameters quantitatively with bolus-tracking MRI. We studied the effect of varying the location of measurement of AIF on the volume of hypoperfusion. We compared the volumes of hypoperfusion obtained with different AIFs with the final ischemic lesion volume. Methods-We included 13 patients with acute cerebral ischemia in the anterior circulation who underwent diffusion-(DWI) and perfusion (PWI)-weighted imaging within 8 hours after symptom onset and exhibited DWI lesion expansion between baseline and follow-up. AIF was measured at 4 locations: near both middle cerebral arteries (MCAs), in MCA bra..