Correlation of 3D Arterial Spin Labeling and Multi-Parametric Dynamic Susceptibility Contrast Perfusion MRI in Brain Tumors

Purpose: Arterial spin labeling (ASL) is an alternative method to Dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) perfusion MRI for brain tumors. However, ASL cerebral blood flow (CBF) can be easily affected by transit time. DSC MRI derived time to maximum of the residue function (Tmax) is possible to assess the transit time on ASL. Methods: Thirty patients with brain tumors were studied using ASL and DSC MRI. The relative cerebral blood flow (rCBF), relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV), Tmax, and mean transit time (MTT) were obtained from DSC MRI. The ratios of the parameters were analyzed. Results: ASL CBF ratio correlated with the DSC rCBF ratio (r=0.78, p