Cerebral perfusion MR imaging using FAIR-HASTE in chronic carotid occlusive disease: Comparison with dynamic susceptibility contrast-perfusion MR imaging

To determine the efficacy of flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery using half-Fourier single-shot turbo spin-echo (FAIR-HASTE) in detecting cerebral hypoperfusion in chronic carotid occlusive disease, we subjected 12 patients with various degrees of cervical internal carotid artery stenoses and/or occlusion (Stenosis group) and 24 volunteers (Normal group) to FAIR-HASTE. In addition, 10 out of 12 patients in the Stenosis group underwent dynamic susceptibility contrast-perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (DSC-pMRI) before and after revascularization in the dominantly affected side. The absolute asymmetry indexes (Als) of both cerebral hemispheres in the Normal and Stenosis groups were compared in FAIR-HASTE. In addition, the Als were compared with those in the Stenosis group before and after revascularization in both FAIR-HASTE and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), calculated with DSC-pMRI. A statistically significant difference was recognized between the Als in the Normal and Stenosis groups (AI = 2.25 ± 1.92, 8.09 ± 4.60, respectively; p <0.0001). Furthermore, in the Stenosis group the Als on both FAIR-HASTE (8.88 ± 4.93, 2.22 ± 1.79, respectively; p = 0.0003) and rCBF (7.13 ± 3.57, 1.25 ± 1.33, respectively; p = 0.0003) significantly decreased after revascularization. In the Stenosis group, before revascularization, signal intensity on both FAIR-HASTE and rCBF had a tendency to be lower in the dominantly affected side. FAIR-HASTE imaging was useful in the detection and evaluation of cerebral hypoperfusion in chronic occlusive carotid disease.