Cerebral hemodynamics and cerebral blood volume: MR assessment using gadolinium contrast agents and T1-weighted Turbo-FLASH imaging.

PURPOSE To assess the degree and regional pattern of first-pass brain enhancement using dynamic MR imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ultrafast MR imaging (1.06-second acquisition time per image) was performed in 19 healthy subjects following a bolus IV injection of a gadolinium contrast agent; 36 patients with suspected pathology were studied using the same protocol. RESULTS Calculated percent blood volumes were 4.9% for right cortical gray matter, 4.8% for left cortical gray matter, and 2.6% for white matter. Subtraction images were obtained that depicted the first pass "blood pool" pattern of enhancement (gray and white matter) which was significant. CONCLUSION Preliminary evidence suggests utility for cerebral "blood pool" imaging, especially if reduced image acquisition times can be achieved.