Functional vascular volume and blood-brain barrier permeability images by angio-CT in the diagnosis of cerebral lesions

• Published in: Computerized medical imaging and graphics Vol. 17; no. 1; pp. 35 - 44
• Main Authors: Bartolini, Alfredo, Gasparetto, Bruno, Furlan, Mauro, Amore, Raffaele, Sullo, Luca, Tartaglione, Antonio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Ltd 1993; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Angio-CT; BBB; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Volume - physiology; Blood-Brain Barrier - physiology; Brain Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Brain Neoplasms - physiopathology; Brain Neoplasms - secondary; Cerebral Infarction - diagnostic imaging; Cerebral Infarction - physiopathology; Cerebral ischemia; Cerebral tumor; Contrast enhancement; Glioblastoma - diagnostic imaging; Glioblastoma - physiopathology; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Iohexol; Lung Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Lung Neoplasms - physiopathology; Medical sciences; Meningeal Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Meningeal Neoplasms - physiopathology; Meningioma - diagnostic imaging; Meningioma - physiopathology; Nervous system; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; rCBF; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Transit time; rCBF; Cerebral ischemia; BBB; Transit time; Contrast enhancement; Angio-CT; Cerebral tumor; Human; Nervous system diseases; Angiography; Radiodiagnosis; Exploration; Permeability; Blood brain barrier; Contrast; Cerebral disorder; Ischemia; Medical imagery; Computerized axial tomography; Hemodynamics; Lesion; Biomedical engineering
• ISSN: 0895-6111; 1879-0771
• DOI: 10.1016/0895-6111(93)90072-U

We performed angio-CT following i.v. administration of an iodinated contrast medium and analyzed the pixel contrast time-density curves from 4 to 10 min postinjection to derive vascular and volume BBB permeability images. This was performed by applying multiple regression analysis of pixel contrast curves versus blood contrast and integrated blood contrast curves. The two regression coefficients, mapped pixel by pixel, correspond respectively to vascular volume and BBB unidirectional transport rate. Initial application in a small number of normal subjects and patients allowed us to characterize areas of steady-state contrast enhancement according to changes of vascular volume and BBB permeability.