Automatic calculation of the arterial input function for cerebral perfusion imaging with MR imaging.

An automated method for determination of arterial input function (AIF) for rapid determination of cerebral perfusion with dynamic susceptibility contrast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was derived. In 100 patients, the automated method was used to create images of relative blood flow, relative cerebral blood volume, and mean transit time. In 20 patients, the voxel chosen with the automated AIF correlated with a large cerebral artery and exhibited less partial-volume averaging when compared with an AIF chosen manually. It is possible to reliably determine the AIF at dynamic susceptibility contrast MR imaging and eliminate the need for operator input and lengthy postprocessing.