Comparison of MRI perfusion imaging and single photon emission computed tomography in chronic stroke

Abstract

There have been few direct comparisons between MR perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI) and established perfusion imaging techniques, and none in chronic stroke. We therefore studied 17 chronic hemispheric infarction patients (mean, 90 days) and compared hypoperfusion volumes determined from PWI maps of relative cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and volume (rCBV), and mean transit time (rMTT) with those measured with 99Tc-HMPAO single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Comparisons were also made between infarct size (T2-WI) and clinical scales. Correlations were found between lesion location and volume in all three PWI hemodynamic parameter maps with clinical state and lesions on SPECT and T2-..