Tomohiro Chigusa, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Tosiaki Miyati PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Naoki Ohno MS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hikari Usui, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Shinnosuke Hiratsuka, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Hirohito Kan, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Toshifumi Gabata MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Osamu Matsui MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To clarify relations and mechanisms among blood-perfusion, water-diffusion, water-fluctuation, and biomechanics of the intracranial tissue, we developed an original cranial phantom for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

The new cranial phantom consisted of a high-density polypropylene filter (filtration accuracy of 0.5 µm, apparent diffusion coefficient [ADC] of 1.3 x103 mm2/s) with intra- and extra-filter spaces, and a capacitor space, which were filled with water at 17 degrees centigrade. These correspond to a brain parenchyma, artery and vein, and cerebrospinal fluid space, respectively. Then, volume loading was periodically applied to the cranial phantom by a pulsation flow (simulated cerebral blood flow) pump. Under these conditions, on a 3.0-T MRI, we determined the regional phantom flow and the ADC change (water-fluctuation) in the pulsation period using pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling and ECG-triggered multi-phase single-shot diffusion echo planer imaging with multi-b (16 points), respectively. Moreover, we compared those values with trans-cranial phantom flow obtained with phase contrast cine MRI and actual pressure wave in the phantom.

The ADC change during the pulsation period in the filter was synchronized with the trans-cranial phantom flow and actual pressure wave in the phantom, indicating water-fluctuation are affected by biomechanical properties. The regional phantom flow agreed with the trans-cranial phantom flow and the ADC change. Moreover, ADC calculated with lower b-values (0 to 160 s/mm2) depended on the regional phantom flow.

Our original phantom makes it possible to clarify relations and mechanisms among blood-perfusion, water-diffusion, water-fluctuation, and biomechanics of intracranial tissue. Perfusion, diffusion, fluctuation, and biomechanics of the intracranial tissue interact in diverse ways.

Our original phantom makes it possible to clarify relations and mechanisms among blood-perfusion, water-diffusion and fluctuation, and biomechanics of the intracranial tissue.

Chigusa, T, Miyati, T, Ohno, N, Usui, H, Hiratsuka, S, Kan, H, Gabata, T, Matsui, O, Development of Cranial MRI-Phantom for Assessing Perfusion, Diffusion, and Fluctuation.  Radiological Society of North America 2013 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, December 1 - December 6, 2013 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2013/13015086.html