How Can Non Contrast MR Tools As ASL And IVIM Help In Assessment OF Myocardial Perfusion

Abstract

Myocardial perfusion and blood volume are the major quantitative determinants of myocardial oxygen supply. The measurement of these parameters is therefore of importance for the understanding of cardiac pathophysiologic processes and for the diagnosis of and therapy for common cardiac diseases such as ischemic or hypertrophic cardiac disease There are several well established methods for non invasive Myocardial Perfusion Imaging (MPI) including Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), Positron emission tomography (PET).T1 and T2 mapping of myocardium are other non invasive MRI techniques. Finally, IVIM and ASL are the most recent evolving MRI techniques that can be applied to study myocardial microcirculation. These methods offer a non invasive way for quantitative assessment of myocardial perfusion and could eventually, with the advancing MRI technology, be supplemental perfusion methods to conventional perfusion sequences as previously discussed in this essay.

Keywords: IVIM, ASL, Myocardial perfusion, Cardiac MRI