Early time points perfusion imaging

►It is a new and detailed investigation of a number of the important properties of the perfusion analysis method utilizing the early time points of the MR contrast agent bolus time course. ►It is concluded that signal to noise (SNR) is one of the critical factors that will determine the accuracy of rCBF estimation using the early time points perfusion imaging (ET) method. With hindsight, the conclusion is not too surprising as SNR is also a major factor in determining the accuracy of rCBF evaluation by the deconvolution method. ►Like the microsphere model of perfusion analysis, the signal of early time points can be manipulated in an almost unlimited number of ways to obtain the same rCBF. This flexibility opens the door to niche applications as each one of the ways has its own strength and weakness. ►ET has its own advantages and disadvantages in comparison with the deconvolution method in evaluating rCBF. More research is needed to sort out the relative strengths of these two methods.